Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes, type II due to herbicide exposure and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depression, and an anxiety disorder), as well as increased ratings for right arm disabilities. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service Agent Orange exposure and schedule him for a VA examination to assess his current disability levels.

This appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeals on several issues, including a rating for DDD of the lumbar spine and PTSD. The right foot disorder claim was reopened due to new evidence.,New evidence has been received that supports service connection for a right foot disorder.

The Veteran was granted service connection for depression and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For depression, the Board found that the Veteran's various service-connected disabilities are more likely than not causing his depressive disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his depressive disorder and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient evidence. A new VA examination is needed, and all relevant medical records must be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition, PTSD, head injury (TBI), and depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is granted. Service connection for PTSD is granted. Service connection for head injury (TBI) is remanded due to lack of an adequate VA examination. Service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease is also remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 2, 2009 for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder. The rating in excess of 70 percent since March 5, 2012 and the TDIU claim are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for major depressive disorder was granted, and the effective date is set at July 8, 2014. The Board found that the evidence showed no significant worsening of symptoms over the earlier portion of the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since his service connection was granted. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s condition has worsened and he experiences daily suicidal thoughts, difficulty maintaining relationships with friends and family, and an increased difficulty with decision making at home and work. A new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether a preexisting psychiatric condition worsened during service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to a lack of recent examination and consideration of certain evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders is remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2015 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, has been denied as the new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, unspecified depressive disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea as they are related to service.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during military service.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension, secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, or medications taken for those conditions, has been reopened and remanded.,The Veteran's claim for seizure disorder remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Left ear hearing loss is rated at 0 percent effective May 20, 2014. The issue of an earlier effective date is remanded.,Diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and the Veteran's request for a higher rating remains denied.,PTSD, depressive disorder, sleep disorder, coronary artery disease, hypertension (secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, or medications taken for those conditions), acid reflux (secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, or diabetes mellitus), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, or diabetes mellitus) are all remanded.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for left ear hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is caused by his service-connected back disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's appendicitis and related conditions are related to his military service, specifically exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.