Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is due to his in-service military stressors and the Board finds that service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an Aid and Attendance examination to assess his need for regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, PTSD, and anxiety.

The Board has remanded both issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and depression due to in-service events, as there is insufficient medical evidence to make a decision on these matters.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to determine the severity of his lumbar disc disease, depressive disorder, and pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea and depression NOS had their onset in service and are therefore granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding new and material evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as it was found that a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder was incurred during military service. Service connection for PTSD is not established.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for depression and hypertension, finding no in-service onset or relationship to service. The Veteran's appeal was based on reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding eye conditions and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches and psychiatric disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's depression with pain and adjustment disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 50 percent rating effective September 2, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, and depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed, was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to psychiatric symptomatology from October 20, 2006 to December 26, 2012. A 70 percent rating is warranted for this period.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include all acquired psychiatric disorders and is remanding the case for further development, including scheduling a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, updated VA treatment records, and SSA disability benefit determinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The Veteran is also given an opportunity to report for a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address whether the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left eye disability, and TDIU claim are related to his service. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions were aggravated by his ACDUTRA service.