Depression decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address his claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is granted, and his lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent since September 9, 2009. His right knee patellar tendonitis remains at a 10 percent rating, while his hypertension continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for a psychiatric examination, and determining the current severity of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has been rated at 30 percent since July 1, 2009. The rating reflects the current level of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, did not manifest in service or within a presumptive period, and is not related to service. The Board also found no evidence of secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, are related to his reported in-service stressors. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been manifested by complaints of anxiety, recurrent nightmares, chronic sleep impairment, and occasional decrease in work efficiency. The evidence does not support a higher initial evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for deep venous thrombosis has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination to clarify whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling since January 13, 2015. The rating was granted based on new evidence that reopened the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing the appellant's status as a substitute claimant, rather than on an accrued benefits basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a psychiatric examination to determine if the appellant was insane at the time of his discharge from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing nightmare disorder did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during his period of active duty from 1975 to 1979 and thus, service connection for a nightmare disorder is not warranted. The other acquired psychiatric disorders are also not related to this period of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, psychotic disorder NOS, depression NOS, adjustment disorder, schizophrenia, impulse control disorder NOS, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to insufficient examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding medical records and to schedule VA examinations to determine the current severity of his PTSD with depression and low back disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as it did not develop in service or within the first post-service year, and there is no evidence of a link between PTSD and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA aid and attendance examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance of another.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is productive of symptoms resulting in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a secondary service connection for sleep apnea due to his major depressive disorder, knee problems, and fibromyalgia. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion regarding whether these conditions caused or aggravated the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.