Depression decisions — 2018

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for residuals of a cold injury of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, hepatitis, entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA mental health examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The issue of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis remains unresolved.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals as to bilateral ankle disability, shrapnel wounds of the left eye, and PTSD with traumatic brain injury and depressive disorder. A 50 percent rating was granted for tension headaches associated with PTSD with traumatic brain injury and depressive disorder, and a 70 percent rating was granted for PTSD with traumatic brain injury and depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD and Major Depression due to incomplete information provided by VA. The Veteran needs to be provided with proper notice letters regarding her sexual assault allegations, and her service treatment records related to mental health need to be obtained. Additionally, her alleged stressors need to be verified.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient STRs and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and alcohol abuse, is being reviewed with a focus on associating these records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disability and remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression) and low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that new evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or link it to service. The Veteran was also diagnosed with alcohol dependence.

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened and remanded. The claim of service connection for involuntary muscle contractions is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and unspecified mental disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for Asthma due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, major depressive disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at June 29, 2011.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a malignant neoplasm, left breast, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD, are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and sleep disorder, is related to his military service. The Veteran must be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he currently suffers from such disorders and their relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, entitlement to a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 1, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms have remained constant and warrant a 50 percent rating. However, the issue of whether acne is part of his service-connected PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to herbicide exposure has been reopened, and service connection is granted. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment for service-connected major depressive disorder was dismissed as moot because he already received a 100% rating for this condition effective October 30, 2012.