Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims due to new VA treatment records being added to the case file. The Veteran's appeal will be reviewed by the AOJ for these additional records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and hypertension due to new evidence received after the March 2016 denial.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, toenail onychomycosis, athlete's foot, rashes on crotch, chloracne, diabetes mellitus type II, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower and right lower extremity neuropathies, and a left-hand condition. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions or any nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a Joint Motion for Remand, and will require an addendum opinion from the May 2019 VA examiner.

The Veteran's other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted an initial 50 percent rating, but no higher. The lumbosacral spine DDD and benign positional vertigo or dizziness disorder are each granted a specific rating. Posttraumatic headaches from November 28, 2016 onwards are granted a maximum schedular 50 percent rating. TBI residuals are not rated in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for insomnia and low back disability due to insufficient examination opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are not related to any specific exposure basis, such as Agent Orange or Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and MDD, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the December 1993 rating decision denying such claims. The effective date remains July 9, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is now service-connected.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is now service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative disc disease and internal disc disruption status post fusion L4-5 and L5-S1, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional medical examination and review of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's depressive disorder related to chronic pain is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities of the back and bilateral knees. However, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of IBS or any other lower gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and stressor-related disorder, is rated at 70 percent from June 1, 2010, to May 8, 2017.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for service connection for MDD as secondary to schizoaffective disorder and granted SMC based on aid and attendance needs. The case is remanded for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed headache condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as his dry eyes and skin disability (claimed as eczema) are remanded for further development. Hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, and depression are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding her employment history and current impairment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cardiac disability is now granted as service connection, with the claim reopened due to new and material evidence.,Service connection for PTSD was denied. The Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, including TBI, mental disorders, fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The issues of rating his TBI residuals, separate ratings for photophobia, speech impediment, and service connection for fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndrome are inextricably intertwined with the main issue.