Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim for a psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and memory loss, due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial higher rating for unspecified depressive disorder was denied, and the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to October 14, 2018 due to insufficient information regarding his income during that period. The AOJ is instructed to verify and associate the Veteran's verified yearly income for years 2004 through 2009 with the claims file.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability related to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and that any diagnosed depression was not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's rationale and the need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to October 20, 2016 was denied. Service connection for Congestive Heart Failure and Glaucoma were also denied. The claim for reopening a previously denied lumbar disability claim was denied. TDIU was granted but rendered moot due to the increase in rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee tendonitis, depressive disorder, and COPD for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and knee conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeal on depression was dismissed as the benefit sought had already been granted. The Board has remanded her claims for myositis, neck disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral foot disability, and toenail avulsion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional development is needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating for her right knee osteoarthritis are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with MDD in April 2014 and needs a new examination to determine if his MDD is related to service.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but additional development is necessary before a decision on the merits can be made.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, which includes a finding of military sexual trauma. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, which he believes is related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board finds that the evidence does not support presumptive service connection due to exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune. However, the Veteran's private physician has indicated a possible association between his psychiatric disability and service. Therefore, the case is remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rhinitis, claimed as a respiratory disorder, is granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.