Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board denied service connection for depression as secondary to aortic valve replacement disability due to lack of evidence of current diagnosis. The claims for gout, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and left kidney disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: the rating for low back disability and service connection for unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran's low back disability needs a new VA examination due to recent worsening, and his psychiatric disorder requires an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot arthritis, depression, and sleep apnea have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,New evidence received since the final decisions supports the underlying claim of service connection for each condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which the VA has determined was aggravated by his service-connected gastritis. The Board is remanding the case for further development regarding the service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and mood disorder, as secondary to service-connected gastritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review, including obtaining medical records and considering new evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the service connection issues due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's TBI and its effects on his chronic fatigue, headaches, and psychiatric disabilities are in question.

The Veteran's appeal is about service connection for major depressive disorder and whether he is competent to handle VA funds. The case must be remanded for proper adjudication of these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes and initial rating for major depressive disorder from June 17, 2005 to July 16, 2012 were denied. However, a rating of 70% was granted for his major depressive disorder beginning July 17, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 31, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran must provide additional records or authorize their recovery, and a VA psychiatrist or psychologist will conduct an examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, incontinence, sciatic nerve disability, and depression. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were caused by service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a 10% rating effective August 28, 2015. An initial 30% rating for IBS is granted effective August 28, 2015. The Veteran's MDD and GAD are rated at 70%, effective March 4, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Additional development is needed due to incomplete medical records and unverified stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and his mental health symptoms are attributable to a personality disorder. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is proximately due to his service-connected other specified depressive disorder, other specified anxiety disorder with unspecified other (or unknown) substance-related disorder. Therefore, service connection for hepatitis C is granted.