Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a left eyebrow scar, right ear hearing loss disability, and low back disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder) and alcohol abuse, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, continuous, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to service-connected disabilities, as his conditions do not meet the legal criteria for payment at either rate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a back disability, and alcoholism as secondary to a back disability due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service injuries or conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including his scar claim, knee conditions, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a traumatic brain injury with headaches.

Service connection for left knee disability, including knee medial meniscal symptoms and degenerative joint disease, is granted as secondary to service-connected right total knee arthroplasty.,Service connection for PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety is granted. The Board finds the evidence to be in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The private examiner opined that it was more likely than not secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that no earlier effective date could be granted due to a July 6, 2017 auto-generated 'intent to file' form which did not preserve an effective date of July 6, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for specific phobia, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), left knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral hip condition as secondary to back disability, rating in excess of 20 percent for specific phobia, rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are all granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for specific phobia is set at December 27, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 30% and a separate rating of 10% for right knee instability has been granted. The Board finds the Veteran's condition warrants remand to determine if there are additional conditions present in his right knee that would warrant separate ratings.,The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability, which is currently rated at 30%. He also seeks a separate rating for his right knee instability, which he reports as being constant and affecting his daily activities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of valid PTSD diagnosis. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD based on MST, was denied. The claims for residuals of an abortion and hysterectomy were also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral eye disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of substantial compliance with its previous directives. The claim for service connection for residuals of head injury, including headaches, remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the current severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The claims are being reviewed due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was dismissed. His acquired psychiatric disorder received a 70 percent rating prior to May 16, 2022 and is denied for higher ratings thereafter. GERD received an initial 10 percent rating effective June 10, 2013 and is denied for higher ratings from May 10, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including manic depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction and has remanded his increased rating claim for unspecified depressive disorder.