Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine; right thigh disability; and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, finding that there is no evidence linking his current mental health conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and depression, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's CVS and whether it should be considered service-connected, either as a separate disability or related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and/or PTSD is granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination and determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder condition may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to confirm this. For his psychiatric disorder, an additional examination is required as the current one did not consider all stressors reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depressive disorder. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on whether there is evidence of a superimposed acquired psychiatric condition resulting from the Veteran's personality disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, bilateral tinnitus, excessive weight gain and obesity, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, left index finger condition (not diagnosed), neck pain, lower back pain, COPD, dizziness, and chronic UTI and incontinence have been granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded in several instances due to insufficient evidence or need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a Gulf War examination to assess the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, Hepatitis B, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a back disability due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent. The right knee disability and psychiatric disorders are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for personality disorder, claimed as passive aggressive personality passive aggressive type, manifested by abuse of drugs is reopened and granted. Other claims are also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including shoulder, back, neck, hip, knee, foot, otosclerosis, tinnitus, heart, prostate, thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The reasons given are that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for an acquired psychotic disability, right knee disability, and migraine headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding medical records and the need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a psychosis to establish eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and a genitourinary condition, but has remanded the issues of service connection for a left shoulder condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder.