Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened and granted effective from September 10, 1999. The earlier date of claim is considered the effective date as it meets the criteria for reopening a previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA mental health examination to clarify the Veteran's current psychiatric disability and its relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if the appellant's current mental health conditions are related to his military service or any other factors.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service stressor for PTSD, and thus denied service connection. The Veteran's hypertension was also not granted as the rating assigned is at the minimum level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify in-service stressors, and provide a VA examination for his right foot pain and psychiatric disorders. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not shown to be present during active military service and has not otherwise been shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a direct relationship between his sleep apnea and service-connected migraine headaches.,The Veteran does not manifest PTSD.,The Veteran's depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and unspecified insomnia disorder are aggravated by service-connected migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the factual need for the aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently evaluated at 70 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The appeal for an increased rating was denied, but the claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and clarify the nature of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing proper notice to the Veteran regarding personal assault stressors. The claim will be adjudicated again after these steps are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, finding that the Veteran's current condition may be related to his in-service visit to the Dachau concentration camp.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private medical records, as well as service personnel records. The appellant's claims will be readjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disability claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate and whether there are any new or material pieces of evidence for his service connection claims. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has ordered a remand to consider whether the Veteran's non-PTSD acquired psychiatric disorders are proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was previously rated at 10 percent prior to June 17, 2015. From June 17, 2015, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if she has an acquired psychiatric disorder that may be related to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder, coronary artery disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).