Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right inguinal hernia. The case is remanded for further action on service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia patella and lumbar spine DJD/DDD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder is established by the record and whether a preexisting right elbow disability was clearly and unmistakably aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral flat feet and a disorder manifested by depression, memory loss, fatigue, and problems with sleeping due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show complaints of foot pain in service, but no definitive opinion on the current condition's origin. For the sleep-related issues, there is insufficient medical examination addressing Gulf War service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot condition and psychiatric disorder (depression) as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims, and there is no in-service occurrence or relationship between the conditions and military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The AOJ must verify any reported stressors and provide a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, COPD, and ischemic heart disease as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis and a need for updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in September 2015 is inadequate and remanded for further clarification of whether the Veteran currently suffers from PTSD and/or another acquired psychiatric disorder, and whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service, including whether it was superimposed on a personality disorder during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and review of updated treatment records, as well as a new psychiatric evaluation. The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities may be related to his current acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's left shoulder and right shoulder osteoarthritis, unspecified depressive disorder, hypertension, hepatitis C, headache, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are all granted service connection.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability and depressive disorder are being remanded for further development. The TDIU claim is deferred until the right knee issue is resolved.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues on appeal have become moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his MDD. The evidence does not support a finding of current PTSD, and there is no total occupational and social impairment due to MDD symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Hip, Depression secondary to service-connected IVDS, and an increased rating for IVDS due to a lack of evidence regarding the Veteran's right hip condition and depression. The Appellant is also referred to submit additional records related to these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as anxiety and depressive disorder) were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The appeal for hepatitis C was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and major depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Veteran's service connection for a bilateral eye condition, insomnia disorder, and depressive disorder is denied. An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for insomnia prior to April 17, 2018, and a 50 percent rating for depressive disorder as of that date are granted. The Veteran's claim for dyshidrotic eczema and tinea pedis of the right foot is denied.