Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to issues with the adequacy of prior VA examinations and the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with history of major depression from December 14, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including L5-S1 degenerative disc disease, was reopened and granted. The Veteran is also granted service connection for depression. However, the rating for small intestine resection with bowel obstruction remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder, depression, and polysubstance abuse caused total social and occupational impairment for the entire period on appeal. An initial 100 percent rating is granted effective from April 16, 1996.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to new and material evidence, but the issue is remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records from Panama City, Florida and providing a medical opinion on the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of low back disability and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety have been rated at 50% prior to February 23, 2015, and at 70% thereafter. The Board has also granted a TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, which is claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder. The VA examiners relied on a lack of evidence during active service and prior/after service in their negative nexus opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The issues of service connection for PTSD, TBI residuals, respiratory disorder, and skin disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatitis. The cases of bilateral knee disability and an acquired psychological disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, COPD, headaches, sleep apnea, arthritis conditions, eye disabilities, circulatory problems, neuropathy, radiculopathy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, hip disabilities, psychiatric disorders, lumbar spine disability, knee disabilities, and other unspecified conditions.

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding her employment and financial situation, as well as the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of her mental health conditions.

Service connection is granted for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar spine spondylosis, as well as other service-connected disabilities. The effective date for the award of service connection for hemorrhoids is set at November 29, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression, need further examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that there is sufficient indication of current disabilities related to the Veteran's service and has ordered additional VA examinations to address his claims for service connection. The Veteran's mental condition, including PTSD, depression, fatigue, and sleep problems, as well as his gout, left knee strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with pes anserine bursitis, and status post repair grade 2 strain right achilles tendonitis and normal healed surgical scar are being examined to determine their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. Service connection for Depressive Disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to a lack of adequate medical evidence. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered on a de novo basis, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo. The issues on appeal include the propriety of combining the ratings for these conditions and the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic low back pain and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the etiology of his conditions.