Depression decisions — 2018

The case is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and several other conditions. Additional development is required to determine whether the Veteran served on land in Vietnam, which could impact his service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cerebral accident, anxiety (non-specific nervous complaints), severe alcohol abuse, and major depression. The decision found that the Veteran's cerebral accident was due to his own willful misconduct with alcohol abuse, and that his anxiety, alcohol abuse, and major depression were not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder, is remanded as there are no VA or private medical records available to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, adjustment disorder, and depression. However, the claim for PTSD remains denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity in the medical records regarding the diagnosis and etiology of PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is now pending with additional development required.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is related to his military service. The issue of treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is moot as the Veteran has established service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with PTSD is being remanded due to the addition of new medical evidence and the need to review outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has resulted in social and occupational impairment, but not to the extent that it would warrant a higher rating. The Board granted a 50 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in diagnoses and need for further verification of stressors. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, will be evaluated again with new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and completion of the TDIU application.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's service-connected lower extremity neuropathies and other conditions necessitate regular aid and attendance, which would affect his eligibility for SMC at a higher rate.

The Board has ordered further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia, increased rating for schizophrenia, and secondary service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran is also seeking a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances due to incomplete medical opinions and treatment records. The Veteran's symptoms of adjustment disorder, attention deficit disorder, depression, and sleep disturbances are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (specifically major depressive disorder with anxious distress) is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing dysthymic disorder increased in severity during service and granting the benefit of doubt to find a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen their previously denied claims for service connection for headaches, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), blackout disability, and spasm of the temples is granted. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder is granted, with an effective date of February 15, 2012. The Board found that the correct effective date was February 15, 2012, as this was when the Veteran first informed VA he was being treated for depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD with depression, a headache disability, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are granted. The claim for residuals of a cervical spine injury is reopened but denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's major depressive disorder and unspecified neurocognitive disorder, as these conditions may be related to his service-connected headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. Service connection was denied for a back disorder, heart disorder, prostate cancer, and diabetes.