Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to his service. The claim for residuals fracture right leg remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for toxic encephalopathy and cognitive impairment due to chemical exposures in service, requiring additional medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent prior to November 29, 2011 and in excess of 70 percent from that date. The rating was granted based on the severity of symptoms including occupational and social impairment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's back disability is presumed to be related to service, and the Board finds that it was incurred in active service. The psychiatric disability (depression) is not secondary to the back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral leg numbness) as secondary to a service-connected low back disability. Service connection was denied for visual impairment and bilateral hand numbness (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a sleep disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or a separate diagnosed sleep disorder. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder and depression, secondary to his service-connected disabilities should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will need to be reviewed with additional medical opinions and possibly a new examination.

Service connection is granted for unspecified depressive disorder and tension headaches.,Service connection is denied for right bifrontal meningioma and its residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back condition, hearing loss, sleep apnea, kidney condition, skin rash over the entire body, hypothyroidism, PTSD, and depressive disorder. The decision also includes a remand for TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent prior to May 19, 2015, and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected depressive disorder and for adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service treatment records are missing, and a new examination is needed to determine if his current psychiatric disabilities had onset in or are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those for a jaw condition, left and right hip conditions, left and right knee conditions, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, liver condition, kidney condition, and TDIU. The reasons for these remands include the need to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) and obtain medical opinions.

The appeal of service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, left lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, right lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, vision disorder, and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The claim is reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, namely a diagnosis of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, as well as a major depressive disorder. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records from VA and non-VA providers who have treated him for these conditions. A new VA examination must be conducted by an examiner who has not previously examined the Veteran.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all three claims due to his death.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service stressors must be verified by the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC).

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and dismissed the increased rating claims for left ankle and foot disabilities. The right shoulder disability claim is remanded.