Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder. The case needs further development with an addendum medical opinion or a new examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for additional compensation for depressive disorder after the rating was increased to 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including Major Depression and Panic Disorder. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development to corroborate an in-service stressor event.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to procedural issues, including a lack of a supplemental statement of the case addressing relevant evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, claimed as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss (BHL), needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, with the denial of the claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder. The rating in excess of 10 percent for seizures and the service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence (psychiatric disorder) as secondary to service-connected seizure disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA mental health examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety disorder, and insomnia, is granted service connection. Headaches are also granted as secondary to the now service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as it is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as it is aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy (bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome) is denied as it is not attributable to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and no higher, as he does not require insulin or restriction of activities.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was granted effective March 31, 2014. The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he meets the criterion for aid and attendance benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulitis, ventral hernia, and colon polyp, is not service-connected.,PTSD was not diagnosed in the record.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depressive disorders) is denied service connection. A rating in excess of 20 percent for hemorrhoids is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depression, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA needs to obtain updated treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, due to lack of evidence linking the current conditions to service. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence from a July 2015 VA examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The issues of service connection for chronic pain, narcolepsy, epilepsy, and hypertension were remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder and coronary artery disease, finding that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent from June 12, 2014. This rating is granted based on the severity of symptoms such as panic attacks, impaired impulse control, and difficulty in establishing effective relationships.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the establishment of service connection for PTSD is granted. The motion seeking revision of a November 2004 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is dismissed as moot. The appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD prior to August 2, 2010 and for Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) benefits is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, liver disease, spleen disorder, and alcohol abuse due to lack of medical evidence in the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.