Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to service-connected disabilities, including his hypertension and psychiatric conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and attempting to obtain private medical records from a therapist. The Veteran's depressive disorder rating is also being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if additional conditions are associated with or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, major depressive disorder (MDD), panic disorder, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, are etiologically related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, bronchitis, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diverticulosis, colon polyps, kidney stones, cysts and lumps, facial acne, headaches, and depression. The remand requires obtaining private medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD to include major depressive disorder, panic disorder without agoraphobia, and history of alcohol abuse was restored from 50% to 70%. The reduction in the disability rating was not proper due to a lack of improvement in the Veteran’s ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all the listed issues, resulting in their dismissal.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and nummular eczema associated with dyshidrosis are granted as secondary to his service-connected skin disability. The Veteran is also granted a 60 percent rating for his nummular eczema, the maximum schedular rating under DC 7806. Service connection for high cholesterol and high triglyceride are denied. Service connection for back disability, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus to include as secondary to skin disability induced obesity is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD was denied, but he was granted a TDIU due to his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify in-service stressors and determine if other diagnosed psychiatric disorders had their clinical onset during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective December 13, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder related to in-service trauma, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and pending claims for increased disability ratings. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being reviewed, but a VA medical opinion is needed regarding his occupational impairment from service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder. The VA examiner is required to confirm whether any of the claimed stressors are adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD and whether the Veteran’s symptoms are related to the claimed stressor(s).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is permanently aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and associated complications. Therefore, service connection for depression as secondary to diabetes is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been reopened. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, previously characterized as PTSD, has been reopened. The appeal is granted to this extent only.