Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted as service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims for hypertension, gout, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, PTSD, and depressive disorder due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically whether it is related to service or his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic pain, a back disability, headaches, sciatica, and depression and anxiety as secondary to Legg Perthes disease due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's depression claim is being reviewed, as well as his increased rating for hypothyroidism and TDIU.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus has been dismissed. An initial compensable rating of 10% has been granted for left thumb degenerative arthritis with flexor tendinitis.,Service connection claims for asthma, depression and anxiety, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hearing loss, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy have all been remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to have started during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has expanded the scope of the Veteran's service connection claim to include all currently-diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran contends that his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to stressful and traumatic events he experienced while deployed in Iraq. However, the VA examiner found no diagnosis of PTSD but did diagnose major depressive disorder. The Board finds the January 2017 medical opinion inadequate and orders a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, depression, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, arthritis, grand mal seizures, erectile dysfunction, kidney disorder, and lung disorder due to exposure to herbicides and asbestos. The appellant is required to submit new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD related to military sexual trauma, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his depression began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical opinions and treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety and depression).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, as there is insufficient evidence to determine eligibility for accrued benefits or service connection for the cause of death. The appellant must provide clear documentation regarding her educational pursuits after reaching the age of 18 years.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD (including major depressive disorder) is dismissed. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded. The claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and concluding that his depression was not caused by or incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and service connection have been remanded by the Board. The VA is directed to obtain private treatment records, provide a medical opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed skin disorder, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board denied service connection for chronic myofascial pain syndrome and dismissed the evaluation in excess of 30 percent for TMJ with subluxation and arthritis. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied due to his suitability for employment and the completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. The Board finds a remand is necessary as there may have been significant changes in the Veteran's circumstances, including his disabilities and employability.

The Board has remanded several of the Veteran's claims due to new evidence not previously reviewed by the RO.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.