Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the claims for service connection for vertigo, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hearing loss. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD. The Veteran is required to provide additional VA treatment records and undergo a psychiatric examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder, needs further examination and evidence before a decision can be made.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected left varicocele disability and associated major depressive disorder, which renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for seizure disorder, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and headaches secondary to PTSD. The appeals are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, examinations, and development of his claims. The hearing loss and tinnitus cases will be remanded solely for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant was 'insane' during his time in the Army Reserve, which could affect service connection for psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's stroke residuals are granted as secondary to his service-connected CAD. Service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is denied. A rating of 10 percent is granted for the right arm shell fragment wound residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and Depressive Disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the validity of his claimed stressors. The case will be returned to VA to attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported incidents, and a new VA examination is required to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD and whether his depressive disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, residuals of sprained finger ligaments and little finger injury of the left hand, and a right foot disability. The claims are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and depression as secondary to migraine headaches due to a lack of personnel records explaining the Veteran's separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. His initial rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, but he is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders have been granted service connection as they are aggravated by his service-connected back, neck and joint disabilities.,Cysts due to exposure to chemicals at Camp Lejeune have not been granted service connection as there is no evidence of a chronic disease associated with the exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on the right shoulder, trapezius strain with cervical spine impairment, and depressive disorder have been dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating of depressive disorder remains pending.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 20 percent for recurrent subluxation of the right knee under Diagnostic Code 5258, which is the maximum and only rating permitted for such impairment. The Veteran's service-connected depression due to another medical condition with depressed features was also recently granted an evaluation of 50 percent effective October 25, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder, has been reopened. Service connection is granted with a 10% rating for the right inguinal herniorrhaphy scar.

The Veteran's left knee TKA is related to his service-connected right knee disorder, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to receipt of additional relevant service medical records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered.