Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to low back disorder, and depression as secondary to low back disorder due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they are no longer relevant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically depression, as secondary to gonorrhea. The evidence did not show a physiological relationship between the psychiatric disability and treatment for venereal disease during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disorders, including depression and mood disorder with anxious features, as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease. Additionally, the right leg scar and the rating for coronary artery disease are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with alcohol dependence, to include depression and anxiety disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. His prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 60 percent, which is the highest schedular rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 7527. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU as his combined disability rating (prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction) is only 60 percent.

The Board has remanded six issues for further development and opinion, including right shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, head injury residuals, depression, and cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and private medical records. The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a pilonidal cystectomy with scarring need to be evaluated again.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with psychotic feature, is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headache disability.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder without agoraphobia and major depression has been shown to be productive of total occupational and social impairment since January 11, 2008. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for major depressive disorder and acquired psychiatric disorders. Service connection is also granted, with a positive opinion provided by a private psychologist indicating that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), PTSD, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is based on secondary service connection to a service-connected condition. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran. Tinnitus has not been linked to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rash, nausea associated with skin rashes, headaches associated with skin rashes, and depression associated with skin rashes. The issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also remanded due to their inextricable link to the reopened issue.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and for additional development in connection with his claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataracts, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, stroke residuals, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD and dysthymia, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of rhinitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6522.,The claim to reopen service connection for a low back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim to reopen service connection for a right knee disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, secondary to rhinitis, was granted. The Board found that the evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The claim to reopen service connection for a neck disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his current disabilities, including back disability, bowel obstruction, osteoarticular infection, CKD, depression, bilateral knee and shoulder conditions, and malnutrition, were caused by a perforated bowel resulting from a VA colonoscopy in November 2011.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, due to the Veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his service in Bahrain.