Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining service personnel records and providing VCAA notice regarding personal assault claims. The Veteran's tension headaches are not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has decided to remand both his claim for a higher rating and his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 7, 2014, for a 100 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is granted. The claim for TDIU from November 14, 2012 to February 7, 2014 is denied as the Veteran was gainfully employed during this period.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The issues of service connection for costochondritis, MVP, frostbite on the right ear, and depression are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and unverified in-service stressors. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records, verify his reported stressors, and obtain a VA psychiatric opinion.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for neutropenia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including GAD, PTSD, depression), bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis have been reopened. The new evidence supports the claim that his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, depression, and anxiety are rated at a 100 percent disability rating since July 21, 2014.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70 percent effective January 24, 2012. The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from June 29, 2015 to August 23, 2017 is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma and remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder) and SMC. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including her PTSD and anxiety/depression disorders. The VA needs to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination regarding his back disability, as well as claims related to sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety, tinnitus, and a higher rating for migraine headaches. A statement of the case must be issued for these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded due to the lack of STRs and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including updated VA treatment records and a vocational opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current diagnoses and their etiology, including a need for an updated VA examination in accordance with the DSM-5.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to outstanding treatment records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for his service-connected depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) and cannabis abuse is being remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence.

Service connection for essential tremor is granted. The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder, NOS, are remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate rating. Service connection for a respiratory disorder related to exposure to burn pits during service is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence supports the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS, alcohol abuse, and depression are being remanded for further evaluation as the current VA examination did not consider all relevant factors.