Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and depressive disorder with insomnia, as well as post-traumatic migraines, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including depressive disorder, personality disorder, and PTSD. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Service connection for depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD related to a personal assault during her active duty for training (ADT) in July 1984 is granted. The Board also found sufficient evidence of other acquired psychiatric disorders, but these are not separately service connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and dysthymic disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is now pending again, and the AOJ must verify his claimed stressors with appropriate records repositories.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, with symptoms including suicidal ideation and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. The Veteran also received a 50 percent rating for migraines.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, including OSA, knee disabilities, and psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claims were denied as he did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other chronic acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded the issue to obtain additional information and adjudicate the referred PTSD claim.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD from December 6, 2008. The appeal regarding a higher rating prior to January 21, 2016 is remanded due to insufficient discussion in the Board decision.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left foot amputation and service connection for end-stage renal disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The decision found that the Veteran's refusal to receive treatment was a significant factor in his condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with an examination to determine the nature and etiology of her acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's CAD, peripheral vascular disease, depressive disorder NOS, and right leg tendonitis are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The arthritis and hip disabilities were denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is not reopened due to lack of material evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for hypertension is denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is set at March 30, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened, and the appeal is granted. The Board also remanded the case to obtain additional evidence and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions, including low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and bilateral hearing loss. Additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or events therein.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and anxiety disorder. The VA is required to obtain a new medical opinion from an examiner other than the February 2012 VA examiner to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis in accordance with the DSM-5 based on MST.

The claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the issues related to active duty for training dates and other acquired psychiatric disorders need further examination.