Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major depressive disorder. The VA needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that remand is required for an addendum opinion addressing direct and secondary service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and depression. The examiner should determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service and whether it was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Veteran's lay statements are sufficient to trigger VA’s duty to provide an examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and no service connection or rating decisions are made.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or establish their relationship to active duty service.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected mood disorder with major depressive features and epilepsy, which prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. An earlier effective date for the award of service connection for mood disorder with major depressive features associated with epilepsy is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorders have been reopened. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between service-connected physical disabilities and the claimed psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of June 9, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. Before this date, the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted due to his symptoms not meeting the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions in the VA examination report and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives, including obtaining a VA examination and completing a TDIU application.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is granted, and her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s PTSD symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for bilateral ankle condition and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to insufficient explanations in the prior decision. The claim for OSA is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines has been granted. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins remain denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest possible level of 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,PTSD with major depression, panic disorder, and cognitive disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to October 15, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total evaluation based on the need for convalescence following surgical treatment for service-connected coronary artery disease is dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for Merkel cell carcinoma is dismissed.,The Veteran’s appeals for service connection and increased evaluations related to hypertension, sleep apnea, and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's skin disability is granted as service-connected, and his PTSD with depression and degenerative disc disease of the low back are rated at 50% and 40%, respectively. The Veteran’s TDIU claim is denied.,Service connection for a skin disability has been established based on in-service exposure to insect bites.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are no medical opinions regarding the etiology or current diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder related to military service.