Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical opinions and consideration of extraschedular criteria.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction may be related to his service-connected major depression, but needs further medical examination and opinion to determine if it is aggravated by this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected conditions of depressive disorder and/or hypertensive vascular disease. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's sleep apnea and these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, alcohol abuse, and erectile dysfunction. The remaining issues of service connection for low back disability, neck disability, bilateral arm neuropathy, mouth disability, and respiratory disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder), right shoulder strain, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The claim for service connection for a rash remains pending as new evidence was received but does not establish the current condition.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gout, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), residuals of a right ring finger injury, and a low back condition due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is required to be provided with medical evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was denied. The claim for an increased rating for Depressive Disorder was also denied, but the Veteran's depressive disorder is now rated at 50% from April 21, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person was denied because there is no evidence showing that he met the requirements for such benefits due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder) due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is found to be related to service events. Service connection for these conditions has been granted.,Tinnitus was also found to have its onset during service and continues to this day, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her psychiatric disorders, tension headaches, and sinus disability. The AOJ must obtain VA outpatient treatment records from March 2013 to the present and schedule a VA examination for an appropriate physician to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, has been reopened. The appeal is granted to that extent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. Specifically, they need to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, review new evidence submitted since the last statement of the case, and consider any relevant VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for myopia, uterine fibroids, and major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder. The cases are remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with anxious mood, is granted. However, the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and esophagus tumor are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, based on a finding that his current symptoms are related to a sexual assault he experienced in service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded.