Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, heart disability (other than coronary artery disease), and psychiatric disability due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of hypertension. The Veteran is also requested to complete a VA Form 21-8940 to provide information about his employment history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression), skin condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are not supported by sufficient evidence to grant service connection. The cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for clarification of all diagnosed mental health disorders since the date of the claim. The Veteran must be scheduled for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder that may be present. The Veteran's discharge from service is considered under honorable conditions for some periods but under other than honorable conditions for others.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 6, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for bronchial asthma and right hip condition have been remanded due to the need for further development. Her claim for allergic rhinitis with chronic upper respiratory infections has been granted, as well as her PTSD claim based on MST.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received and remands the case for further development including verification of reported stressors and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied, with the decision finding that his PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU based on a single disability. The Veteran's SMC claim is pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was denied, and the Board also remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD. The appeal is now pending on whether higher SMC benefits are warranted based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for anxiety/depression and diabetes mellitus type II is denied.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to lack of a VA examination opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, tremor disorder, and psychiatric disorders to include PTSD, MDD, and GAD due to their secondary nature to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, feed himself without assistance, attend to the wants of nature, or require regular care from another person. As such, he is not in need of aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder as secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and needs to be obtained from various sources. The Veteran is also requested to provide authorization for Kaiser Permanente records from the early 1980s.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding insufficient rationale in previous opinions and issues of inextricability with another pending appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner is asked to consider delayed onset psychiatric disorders and potential exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS prior to September 1, 2015 is granted.,An initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS from September 1, 2015 is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that his symptoms of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks are manifestations of his already service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as a herniated disc in the thoracolumbar spine, were previously denied. New evidence was submitted to reopen these claims, but it did not provide sufficient material to substantiate them.,A rating of 20 percent has been assigned for bilateral hearing loss since July 21, 2014.