Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lower back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for mefloquine toxicity exposure as there is no current disability linked to the Veteran's use of Mefloquine.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD are granted service connection, with a 50% initial rating for PTSD. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows he has a current diagnosis of PTSD stemming from an in-service dog bite, and there is credible supporting evidence that the stressor occurred.

The Board has denied a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction, and has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma was reopened and granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also granted, but the right knee condition, back problems, and psychiatric disorder claims are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion and the need for clarification on whether the Veteran had a diagnosis of anxiety at any time during the appeal period, and if so, whether it was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's TBI and depression are not granted service connection as there was no in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is remanded. The claim for a higher rating for MDD, earlier effective date for radial neuropathy of the right wrist, and increased rating for a right leg disability are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial in 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted for the period prior to May 14, 2015. A rating of 70 percent is assigned. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30% prior to February 17, 2014 and increased to 50% effective from February 17, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is remanded for further development and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and a higher rating in excess of 50 percent for this condition has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for his psychiatric disability is denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at November 17, 1994.

The Board has found that the Veteran's VA examinations for his cervical spine, knee disabilities, and mental health conditions have not been conducted as scheduled. The appeal is being remanded to reschedule these examinations and obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions and new evidence. The claims for fractures, hypertension, wrist sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome, renal dysfunction, depression, gastroenteritis, and liver failure are being reviewed due to additional evidence.