Depression Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including headache disorders, cardiovascular disorders, sleep disorders, dizziness, visual disorders, and psychiatric disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because he did not provide sufficient information about his employment history, and thus failed to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorders and psychiatric conditions due to potential issues with service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a bilateral elbow condition is granted. The right hand condition is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder was denied as no formal or informal claims were received prior to June 23, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression), and lumbar spine osteoarthritis. The criteria for direct service connection have been met in all cases.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 11, 2017, for a 100% disability rating for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder was denied as there is no evidence of increased disability prior to that date and the Veteran did not receive proper notice regarding her scheduled VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported stressors and a need for further psychiatric evaluation.

The Veteran's bladder cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (persistent depressive disorder), atrial fibrillation with congested heart failure, and aortic aneurysm are all granted service connection as due to herbicide agent exposure during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with posttraumatic and anxiety features and alcohol abuse disorder is found to be aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, leading to the grant of service connection for these conditions. The issues regarding hypertension and heart condition are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals, and the Board dismissed all remaining issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of diagnoses and stressors, as well as secondary service connection based on medications used to treat psychiatric disorders. The VA will obtain additional medical records and provide new opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, ED, and GI disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis as a chronic respiratory condition is granted.,The claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the timeliness of the May 2017 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) because new service treatment records were associated with the case, necessitating a reconsideration rather than reopening. The issues on appeal have been considered and denied.

The Veteran's claim for papillary bladder tumor residuals was dismissed. The petition to reopen his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, but the issues of service connection for drug and alcohol abuse as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder and drug and alcohol abuse are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of which medications are prescribed for chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder, as well as a differentiation between symptoms attributable to each condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for PTSD and Depressive Disorder, including the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, is granted up to July 18, 2019. The appeal for a higher evaluation beyond this date is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression. The reasons are that there were inadequate nexus opinions provided by VA examiners.