Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The issues of service connection and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder likely began in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression; a higher initial disability rating for cervical spine disability; and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand includes additional stressor development and new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected TBI and headache disabilities, but denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information on whether the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, are related to his service. The Veteran was diagnosed with depressive disorder and anxiety disorder during VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for status post cataract surgery, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD with depression due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified stressor-related or depressive disorder. The appeal was also remanded for evaluations in excess of 20 percent for gastroparesis, as well as evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left and right ankle instability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied due to lack of evidence of a diagnosed condition. The Board found that the Veteran did not have PTSD or any other diagnosable psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the total knee arthroplasty with residual pain and weakness, is granted as service-connected. The issues of arthritis in all joints (excluding left shoulder and right knee), low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and PTSD due to potential inadequacies in the VA medical opinions provided. The Veteran is also requested to undergo a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and her active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and agoraphobia is granted. The left foot disorder claim is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities. However, these issues are still being remanded due to insufficient evidence in some areas.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorders, are granted as service-connected due to in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability manifested by stress, depression and antisocial behavior as there was no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is reopened due to new evidence, but the issue of whether it is secondary to his service-connected depression remains unresolved and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner is required to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service and whether PTSD is caused by a claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, evaluation of depressive disorder and PTSD have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have worsened since his last VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine the appropriate disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that no formal or informal claim had been received prior to May 22, 2012, and that the effective date should be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of the claim to reopen, which is May 22, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions and records.