Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues of left arm pain, left leg pain, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability are all being reviewed.

The Board has found the VA examination inadequate and remanded for further evaluation due to missing relevant evidence in the Veteran's records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and determination of the merits of various service connection claims.

The Board denied the reopening of service connection for sinusitis and a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The evidence did not show that sinusitis worsened during service or that there was a link between the psychiatric disabilities and service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD and adenocarcinoma of the prostate, finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran for further examination and development, including obtaining medical records from an emergency room visit in May 2015. The issues include service connection for a right shoulder condition, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and rating greater than 10 percent for migraines.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The rating reflects significant impairment in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, suicidal ideation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, but the other conditions are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic dyspnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder) have been denied. The Veteran also had his claim for a higher rating for neurodermatitis denied.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service or being related to in-service events. The Veteran's current diagnoses were found to be unrelated to service, with chronic dyspnea and psychiatric disorders attributed to deconditioning and other non-service-related factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding treatment records and need for examinations. The issues include service connection, increased ratings, and a higher evaluation for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle condition and major depressive disorder are granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder due to his request through his attorney of record to withdraw the appeal. The issues of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability, service connection for a left elbow disorder, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and panic attacks have not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and an increased rating for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection, particularly concerning PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran is seeking Section 1151 compensation for various conditions resulting from a pancreatectomy and related surgeries performed by VA. The Board has determined that additional disability was caused, but the specific cause of this disability (caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA) needs to be clarified.,The Veteran is also seeking Section 1151 compensation for PTSD, anxiety, and depression as a result of the pancreatectomy. The Board has determined that additional disability was caused, but the specific cause (caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA) needs to be clarified.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate gland injuries and traumatic brain injury, and remanded the issues of service connection for anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and depression, as well as evaluation greater than 10 percent for pityriasis versicolor. The Veteran is also required to provide new evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a higher rating. The Veteran needs an in-person VA examination due to his incarceration.