Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder, are found to be at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer condition. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. New and material evidence has reopened claims for bilateral elbow disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and chronic sinusitis but the claims are denied on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination to address his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a compensable rating for post-operative residuals of appendectomy and small bowel resection for Meckel’s diverticulosis, and TDIU. The issues include whether the claimed conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or if they are secondary to them.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia and other conditions, is granted. PTSD was denied. The claim for service connection is reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder. A VA examination is needed to determine if any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the ratings of GERD and major depressive disorder were denied as there was no factual basis to grant an earlier date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating for migraines, as well as the issue of reopening a claim for lower lip scar and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), due to the Veteran's homeless status. The VA is directed to ensure proper notification and obtain necessary medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The appeal regarding eligibility for VA medical treatment for a psychosis or mental illness under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as the Veteran's major depressive disorder now qualifies him for such treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 20, 2012. An effective date of December 20, 2012 is granted for the award of total disability rating due to service-connected disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further evaluation, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and the Board does not have jurisdiction over this case.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, shoulder disability, hip disability, knee disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric/mental disabilities. The July 1997 decision remains final regarding the low back disability claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected, and the initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for depressive disorder and TDIU due to lack of recent treatment records, need for a new VA examination, and updated employment information.

The Veteran's claims for foot fungus and diabetes mellitus were dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, but the issue of reopening the finally disallowed respiratory disorder claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was granted a 100 percent rating for depression with psychotic disorder and mixed personality disorder, effective from the date of the decision.