Depression decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that there was no medical nexus between his military service and his current diagnosis of depression.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, left shoulder disability, depressive disorder, and kidney condition due to new VA treatment records being added after the last statement of the case or supplemental statement of the case. Additional opinions are needed regarding whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to its inextricability with another claim, specifically the TDIU claim. The Veteran's psychiatric disability rating prior to May 21, 2015, is now before the Board for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression. Service connection is also granted for obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date of the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus is set at May 28, 2014.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation for side effects of Gabapentin, finding that there was no additional disability caused by Dr. O.G.'s care and that the side effects were known and foreseeable.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The psychiatric disorder and sleep disorder claims are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia and depressive disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the left knee receiving a 10% rating since July 14, 2011, and the depressive disorder receiving a 30% rating prior to September 24, 2014, and a 70% rating thereafter.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and left knee disability have been granted service connection. The case has been remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability, including a new examination to address its relationship with his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about PTSD diagnoses and stressor events. They need to verify all contended stressors and obtain a DSM-5 based opinion on the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and examination reports. The issues include psychiatric disorders, prostate disorder, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, anemia, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorder, bilateral eye disorders, low back disability, upper back disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with anxiety and Major Depressive Disorder with alcohol use disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor events. The disability is rated noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining additional medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and issuing an SOC regarding the effective date of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA medical opinion and the Veteran's disagreement. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, including cannabis use disorder previously diagnosed as anxiety neurosis with paranoid features, had its onset in service or was caused by an in-service disease or injury.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder, finding that it began during active service. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depression has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD, is granted as service connected. The claims for left hip condition and right hip condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and incomplete development of service treatment records, particularly from U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California.