Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, a neck condition, and rheumatoid arthritis. The issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of the provided evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for eligibility under the PCAFC program due to a lack of proper notice and an inadequate medical opinion. The AOJ must provide complete notice as required by law, including identification of findings favorable to the claimant and elements not satisfied leading to the denial.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and acquired psychiatric disability (including major depressive disorder) are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with the addition of relevant SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance is granted, with the effective date set at October 11, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiac symptoms, which the VA medical opinion indicates were related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's service-connected condition and his cause of death.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, depressive type was rated at 70 percent effective February 25, 2008. The decision also granted a TDIU for the same period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, mood swings, right finger burn or numbness of right fingers. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility to enroll in the PCAFC program due to a lack of need for personal care services, supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury, and regular extensive instruction or supervision without which the ability to function would be seriously impaired. The case is being remanded to obtain a more detailed medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the decision on appeal was not legally adequate and requires remand for further action, including obtaining a medical opinion from the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) regarding personal care services needs and supervision requirements. The AOJ must also provide compliant notice under 38 U.S.C. § 5104.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, substance abuse disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors, including failure to obtain relevant private treatment records and provide adequate medical opinions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that symptoms were not severe enough to interfere with occupational and social functioning or require continuous medication.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and migraines are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty assist error. A VA examination is needed to address the relationship between his claimed conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and request for additional details from the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural errors, and will consider new evidence in determining if there is a current diagnosis of PTSD or if hepatitis C was incurred during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to an error in obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. The TDIU claim is also intertwined with other appeals, including those for service connection for fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board has determined that the March 2021 rating decision granting a TDIU from August 2020 is an initial decision with respect to the case, and therefore the appellant is eligible for direct payment of attorney fees.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to the lack of credible evidence supporting a verified in-service stressor event.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination for service connection of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which is considered a pre-decisional duty to assist error.