Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must make efforts to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and any inpatient or clinical records from Fort Ord.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for service-connected acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae, and hypertension have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the disorders and service. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have these conditions and they are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not ready for final decision due to incomplete development, including obtaining additional medical records and clarifying the number of scars status post lumbar spine surgery. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating from February 25, 2015 to October 20, 2017. The initial higher ratings for PTSD and dismissal of the TBI claim are all in effect.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, NOS is dismissed. The rating for his back disability is denied. The appeals for the right and left foot disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and depression. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry into service for any pre-existing conditions, including mental health issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart condition and depression, as secondary to a heart condition due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.,Additional examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s unspecified depressive disorder is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s headaches are due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's sleep disturbance (including sleep apnea and insomnia) claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s athlete's foot is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia with bilateral leg pain claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s hypertension is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's right knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's left knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's skin rash on face and head claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with anxiety, intermittent explosive disorder, and chronic adjustment disorder due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to reopen for respiratory condition has been granted. The claims for weight loss, allergic rhinitis, neck disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and alcohol abuse have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the diagnoses of atypical stress disorder, anxiety disorder NOS, and bipolar disorder type I, mixed.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and anxiety secondary to colon cancer) due to a lack of compliance with DSM-V criteria in the previous VA examination. The Veteran is to be provided another VA examination to determine if he has a current diagnosis of a mental disability that conforms to DSM-V criteria, and whether it is related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU based on PTSD was denied. The case of hypertension service connection is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to conflicting clinical records and the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The appeal for the hepatitis C claim is dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal.,The vision loss and depression claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected IVDS is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and depression are remanded as they may be related to or aggravated by his service-connected IVDS. A VA examination will be conducted to determine this relationship.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, and plantar fasciitis are remanded as they may be related to his service-connected IVDS. A VA examination will be conducted to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with depressive disorder NOS (claimed as dysthymia and depression) associated with sinusitis is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board denied entitlement to an increased rating.