Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Graves' Disease with hypothyroidism. The appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for obesity as it is not a disease or injury for which service connection may be established. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, left sciatic nerve disability, and depression are remanded due to missing medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for multiple sclerosis, constipation, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to their inextricable interrelation. The Veteran's claim for service connection for these conditions is now pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if she has any current acquired psychiatric disorder and whether it is related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for issuance of a SOC regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim of depression, including as secondary to service-connected headaches. The VA will also schedule an appropriate examination for the Veteran's headaches and consider the TDIU claim in conjunction with the increased rating claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depressive disorder, is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected chondromalacia patella of the left knee. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical records from SSA and private sources.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, clinical right L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy, and clinical left L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's reported exposure to toxic chemicals during a flood and cleanup at Fort Leonard Wood in 1975. The VA is instructed to investigate further and obtain additional information.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.,Fatigue, headaches (claimed as migraine headaches), and an acquired psychiatric disability have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded to obtain a new VA examination to address the etiology of his psychiatric conditions, including whether they are related to in-service stressors or personal assaults.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion considering recent lay evidence about an in-service incident.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS with depression is rated at 50% since August 21, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings and TDIU was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression). The claim for increased rating of left foot plantar fasciitis is denied. A remand is ordered to obtain a nexus opinion regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, right knee instability, right knee strain, scarring on the neck, scarring on the hand and forearm, and depressive disorder. The claims have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder was granted, effective June 25, 2008. The Board also granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and associated benefits.

The Veteran's chest pain is not related to service, but his psychiatric disorder was first diagnosed during service and may be due to stress. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is reopened.