Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2025

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, migraines, left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and back pain to provide proper VCAA notice and further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including GERD, bilateral vision impairment, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, headaches, heart disability, hypertension, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right hip condition, sleep apnea, and urinary frequency.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, as well as initial compensable ratings for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, a bilateral eye disorder, asthma, and a skin disorder were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of May 22, 2019, but no earlier, for the assignment of a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical spine disability was dismissed, and claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) employment and earnings history from 2020 forward.

The Veteran's November 21, 2024 VA Form 20-0996 Request for Higher-Level Review was timely filed and the Board granted it.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for timely filing of an appeal request, dismissing the attempted appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than other trauma and stressor-related disorder and hypertension (HTN) as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link to service.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right hand strain status-post fracture of the third metacarpal and denied service connection for various other conditions including a right ankle condition, foot disability (torn Achilles tendon), acquired psychiatric disability, ear condition, head injury, left leg disability, and low back disability.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for headaches with auras and a 10 percent rating for temporomandibular joint disorders, unspecified. Service connection was denied for various conditions including disabilities causing numbness, hearing loss, hip and spine issues, chest pain, dizziness, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, wrist disability, shortness of breath, ankle and eye pain, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted an initial 100 percent rating for psychiatric disability and Meniere's disease, but denied SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected low back and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea, and denied a compensable evaluation for a left knee scar. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cluster headaches, and increased ratings for the left knee, back, GERD, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied an increased rating greater than 70 percent and individual unemployability for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder from August 15, 2012, to October 15, 2019.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability to correct a duty to assist error, specifically requiring an addendum opinion that addresses the proper standard of causation and aggravation.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA's obligation to obtain relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, fatigue, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.