Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder type II) and denied service connection for tinnitus. The decision on tinnitus is based on the absence of a link between current symptoms and military noise exposure, while the decision on bipolar disorder acknowledges its onset in service.

All claims for service connection related to lumbosacral strain, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right hand condition, left hand condition, athlete's foot/tinea pedis, right shin splints, left shin splints, erectile dysfunction, alopecia areata (hair loss), and acne have been dismissed due to lack of timely appeal. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for these conditions.

All claims for service connection related to lumbosacral strain, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right hand condition, left hand condition, athlete's foot/tinea pedis, right shin splints, left shin splints, erectile dysfunction, alopecia areata (hair loss), and acne have been dismissed due to lack of timely appeal. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

New and relevant evidence has been received, including medical opinions from Dr. D.W. regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder and from Dr. G.S. regarding the bilateral foot disability and hypertension. The AOJ will readjudicate these claims.,The AOJ will also readjudicate the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability based on new evidence submitted by the Claimant.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including focal motor seizures and residuals of traumatic brain injury. The claims are being returned for further development due to a duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition and traumatic cataract of the right eye due to a withdrawal request by the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation (heart disabilities), residuals of ischemic stroke, and bilateral visual field defects. The Veteran's mental health conditions are linked to his in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need to obtain additional medical evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with all relevant records considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which may be secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 70 percent initial evaluation for service-connected psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and right wrist disorder due to potential errors in the initial decision. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis to his existing service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder with an unspecified depressive disorder, is rated at a 70 percent disability rating from July 6, 2017, to April 5, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory condition, including asthma and bronchitis, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected right shoulder strain.

The Veteran's chronic paranoid schizophrenia is manifested by symptoms associated with a 100 percent rating such as persistent delusions and suicidal ideation, resulting in total social and occupational impairment. The maximum 100 percent rating is granted for the period after September 25, 2015.

The appeals for left ankle, right ankle, diabetes mellitus type II, lumbosacral strain, osteoarthritis post-traumatic as secondary to gout, and right ear hearing loss disabilities have been dismissed.,New and relevant evidence has been presented or secured regarding the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral foot disability. These appeals are granted in part.

The appeal for service connection for a left wrist disorder is dismissed. The acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia with exacerbation and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, anxiety, and depression, was not shown in service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as untimely.,The Veteran's bilateral nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with posterior intraocular lens following bilateral cataract surgery has been granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher.

The appeal of the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and temporomandibular joint disorder is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with schizophrenia is denied.,The appeal of the issues of service connection for headaches, cervical spine condition, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left hip strain, and right hip strain is dismissed.

Your appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for your acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the issue has been previously adjudicated.