Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 70% rating, effective July 15, 2024. The Veteran's GERD remains at a 10% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been rated at 100 percent, and he is already receiving special monthly compensation (SMC) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). Therefore, there remains no issue for the Board to resolve regarding entitlement to Total Disability due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his psychiatric disability was the initial decision, and thus attorney fees are not eligible based on past due benefits awarded in April 2025.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an adequate examination, as there are duty-to-assist errors prior to the September 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability with alcohol and drug abuse is granted. The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the claim has been received, but further development is needed due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding verification of reported deaths in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from the Veteran's treating clinician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not require regular aid and assistance from another person as a result of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including missing treatment records and a lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's unspecified adjustment disorder is related to his service.

The claims for service connection for hypertension, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain have been readjudicated. The claim for sleep apnea has also been readjudicated.,Service connection has been granted for a neck condition, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bruxism, and vertigo.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 13, 2018, for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Veteran also meets the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU prior to June 1, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot pes planus is dismissed. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied, and the claims for right eye injury residuals are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including missing treatment records and a lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's unspecified adjustment disorder is related to his service.

The Board has determined that new evidence has been received to reconsider the claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and PTSD), and Parkinson's disease. The conditions are presumed to be due to exposure in service.,Service connection is established for all four claimed conditions.

The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a July 2024 rating decision for an increased rating of the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder is denied, while his OSA is granted. The initial evaluations for rhinitis, right knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and right shoulder bursitis are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is being remanded due to the failure to obtain his service records from his first enlistment period (1971-1974) and verify his claimed in-service stressors. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to address all of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and his complete medical history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, stomach disability, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions.