Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for a low back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), but remanded the claims for service connection for neck disability and secondary service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current mood disorder with major depressive features is caused by his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service department records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's depression is related to her service-connected infertility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, total right knee replacement, left knee chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative joint disease, and a residual scar on the right knee, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed dissociative disorder is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in August 2013 is inadequate for evaluation purposes and that further evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. The Board also notes conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran had a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD prior to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no valid diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV or DSM-5 by any qualified medical examiner. The evidence did not support a nexus between current mental health conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral wrist scars, and various back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records, scheduling examinations, and determining the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current mental health conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression, finding no current diagnoses of these conditions. The claim for a bilateral eye disorder is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and an earlier effective date for hearing loss are denied, but the case is remanded for additional development regarding the hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for IVDS and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and earlier effective date for TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection granted for right wrist chronic radicular strain, depression and anxiety, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. Service connection denied for right shoulder impingement syndrome and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and a binge eating disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has not been established for a left foot disability, vision disorder, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, right foot disability, upper and lower extremity disabilities, respiratory disorders, sleep disorder, or psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depression.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed all claims for effective dates prior to February 19, 2013, and denied the Veteran's service connection claims.