Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted at service entrance and is not presumed to have been aggravated during service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of aggravation, thus denying service connection for this condition.,Service connection for the left knee disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion addressing direct service connection based on the conceded in-service injury.,The Veteran's skin condition (likely Pseudofolliculitis Barbae and hyperpigmented scars) was not related to active service, as there were no in-service or post-service diagnoses of this condition. The remand is for an opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset in service.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depressive disorder) is remanded due to the need for an opinion addressing direct service connection based on the Veteran's reports of in-service left knee injury and/or incident involving a gas chamber.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, are related to her service or any of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for various conditions, including COPD, Graves' disease, stomach problems, chronic pain syndrome, coronary atherosclerosis with stent, hypertension, reflux, and psychiatric disabilities have been granted. The issues of service connection for otitis externa, otitis media, cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as the diagnosed alcohol use disorder and depressive disorder are not related to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, erectile dysfunction, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing potential in-service causation or aggravation of these conditions.,Service connection is denied as the acquired psychiatric disorder (alcohol use disorder and alcohol induced depressive disorder) is not related to service.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder, chronic sinusitis, and asthma have been granted service connection. The left knee disorder remains in dispute as the appeal is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia (also claimed as depression), but remanded both the original claim and the request for a higher evaluation due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus (DM), neuropathy of the right hand and left foot, erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate disorder, and a right eye disorder is granted. The remaining issues are REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a mental health disorder, finding that the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including depression, neurobehavior effects, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain. The claims are being returned due to the Veteran not receiving a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximate a 50 percent rating due to disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are rated at 70 percent, while his GERD is rated at 30 percent. The appeal for TDIU was withdrawn, and the left ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable, as he was able to maintain full-time employment in a substantially gainful occupation until August 14, 2018.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disability, but has found that new evidence is needed to determine their etiology.

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claims.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's headaches are related to her service-connected allergic rhinitis and/or major depressive disorder, as well as any aggravation thereof.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied. The Board found that the July 30, 2010 claim was not a new and material application as there was no prior formal or informal application to reopen the previously denied claims of ankylosis of the left 5th finger and depressive disorder between February 2009 and July 30, 2010. The Board also found that a VA examination for the left 5th finger disability is needed due to the Veteran's assertions of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), major depressive disorder, and penile infection status-post circumcision have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for these conditions on a secondary basis due to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are insufficient and remands for new examinations are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.