Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a service-connected condition resulting in allergic rhinitis, residual scars of the left shoulder, bilateral tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as adjustment disorder), a cervical and cervicothoracic region pain disorder, radicular pain of the right upper extremity, or chronic sinusitis. The Veteran's hearing loss disability claim was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, and lower back condition are all found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran was awarded service connection for a psychiatric disability, right foot disability, and headache disability in July 2024 with an effective date of March 1, 2024. He is seeking an earlier effective date prior to this.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective throughout the period on appeal. The decision grants this increased rating.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings are dismissed due to untimely filing of his Notice of Disagreement. The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, rating determinations, and other claims.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches (to include migraines), and a cervical spine disability. The claims are being remanded to the AOJ for further development.,No specific rating or effective date was assigned in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD with depression and anxiety have been granted. The case is being remanded to obtain a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) opinion regarding the Veteran's fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 5, 2019, for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder increased evaluation claim was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded and requires further examination.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and hearing loss disabilities in both ears. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than an unspecified adjustment disorder was granted service connection with a 50% evaluation effective March 18, 2024.,Service connection for sinusitis and syncope were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as alcoholism, anxiety, depression, and/or PTSD) and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing in-service onset or relationship to service. The Veteran's inconsistent statements were considered, and the Board found that his lay testimony was not credible.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than paranoid schizophrenia, to include substance abuse disorders and PTSD, as secondary to the already service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. Service connection for PTSD is also granted based on evidence of record at least in equipoise with the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired mental disorder is not related to his qualifying period of service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,New evidence has been submitted that may support service connection for a neck condition. The claim is remanded to allow for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is being remanded as there was no examination provided, and the examiner did not address all elements of secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition is being remanded as there was no examination provided, and the examiner did not address all elements of secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for rectal cancer is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fracture right leg remains, to include as secondary to the service-connected left leg varicose veins, is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins, right leg is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hand arthritis is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for seizures is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis in right knee is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis in left knee is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney condition is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis in right hip is being remanded due to procedural issues with the examinations conducted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as the AOJ granted service connection in a January 2023 rating decision. The claims for right hand arthritis and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the February 2023 remand directives and thus another remand is necessary. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, SMC based on aid and attendance, and TDIU are all remanded.

The Veteran's right toe disability is rated at a 20 percent rating, effective February 24, 2010. Effective January 30, 2012, the Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) were denied because there was no evidence of a current disability.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may prove or disprove his claims. The Board finds a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities.