Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, PTSD, intermittent explosive disorder, and sleep disorder, as these conditions are related to the Veteran's experiences in service. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for updated examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to consider continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations. The issues include right bundle branch block, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, respiratory conditions, and an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder with anxiety) and denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder disability is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition. Additionally, his TDIU claim is also being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cannabis use disorder claimed as depression, agoraphobia, and bipolar disorder due to lack of a current diagnosis of any psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, left ankle and foot, gout, eye conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and major depressive disorder. The appeals were based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and dental trauma. The Veteran is asked to provide more details about a claimed assault during service, and his claim for dental compensation will be considered in light of any new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The denial of service connection for a right knee disorder was also upheld due to the lack of relevant evidence.,Service connection for left knee arthritis has been granted, effective from September 25, 2015. However, the Veteran's claim for depression remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but denied service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities as well as left knee and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are granted as service connected. The acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active duty service, while the erectile dysfunction was aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as new evidence did not relate to a previously unestablished element of the claim.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issues of service connection for depression and PTSD, TBI, post-operative chondromalacia of the right knee, varus and valgus laxity of the right knee, low back strain, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has decided that a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected depression.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands for a new one. The Veteran's service records show he was diagnosed with 'psychoneurotic' depressive reaction during his military service, which may be related to his current psychiatric issues.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include depression and anxiety. The Veteran's current diagnoses of depression and anxiety are found to be etiologically related to her in-service symptoms and stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder, is being reviewed for service connection. The temporomandibular dysfunction claim is also pending as it may be related to an already service-connected condition.