Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA medical records. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders (including PTSD) and sleep apnea are also being addressed.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was caused by his service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a sino-nasal disorder and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim was not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's November 1980 motor vehicle accident during service may not have been due to willful misconduct, and thus is related to service. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Board determined that the Veteran's character of discharge from November 8, 1989 to July 20, 2001 was dishonorable and thus barred VA benefits for this period. The claim for service connection for depression is reopened based on new evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with secondary anxiety and depression is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a rating of 10 percent for his service-connected status post traumatic amputation left distal phalanx, left index finger. A separate 20 percent rating was assigned for the scar associated with this condition. The Veteran's major depressive disorder remains rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to incomplete medical records from her active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder was granted effective from September 8, 1995. This decision is based on new VA treatment records received in January 2010 that were not part of the claims file at the time of his initial denial in February 1996.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder manifested during active duty service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and undifferentiated/overlapping alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide a VA examination addressing whether any current psychiatric disorder is related to service or service-connected prostate cancer. The AOJ should also issue a statement of the case as to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, TBI cognitive disorder, NOS, and migraines.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The reduction in rating for his left knee instability from 10 percent to 0 percent, effective March 1, 2017, is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and inpatient psychiatric records from service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran with appropriate specialists to determine the current severity of his unspecified depressive disorder and bilateral tricompartmental osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for additional clothing allowances is denied as the devices causing damage to his clothing are not used in conjunction with a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities.