Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for verification of the Veteran's reported in-service stressor and a determination on whether he currently has a psychiatric disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and depression, left lower extremity radiculopathy, depression, a cervical spine disability, and right and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded due to conflicting evidence from VA examinations. His GERD is also remanded as new symptoms have been reported.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased evaluation and TDIU due to PTSD with major depressive disorder. The Veteran needs to provide information about his treatment providers, obtain any outstanding records, and undergo VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, diagnosed as inflammatory facet joint arthropathy. The appeal was dismissed for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and chronic depression.

The Veteran's PTSD, MDD, and GAD have caused total occupational and social impairment from March 28, 2013 to March 13, 2015. The Board granted a 100% rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and acquired mental condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence is rated at 50 percent prior to July 29, 2015. The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for the entire period on appeal including prior to July 29, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received by the Veteran, which led to a reopening of his claim for service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder related to fear of hostile military activity and sexual assault during service.

The Veteran's major depression and anxiety disorder have been rated at 70 percent since October 2, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with depression and anxiety (previously rated as posttraumatic stress disorder) has been manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board denied an increased rating for the disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss disabilities. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied due to lack of a diagnosed PTSD. The decision is based on the absence of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is granted, but the Board finds that further development is necessary before the merits of the underlying claim can be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses will be evaluated to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence that has not been reviewed by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and her claimed personal assault. The Veteran needs to provide more information for VA to corroborate these events, and a psychiatric examination is required to determine if her current mental health conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to incomplete information and need for additional etiology opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, manic depression, and anxiety disorder, is also granted.

Service connection for depression, substance abuse, and sleep disorder has been dismissed.,Service connection for cardiovascular disorder is denied.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for right hip disability to include as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for left hip disability to include as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for knee joint pain to include as due to an undiagnosed illness remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for respiratory disorder to include as due to an undiagnosed illness remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with updated treatment records, verification of stressors, and a new VA examination.