Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided the case is not ready for final decision and has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether it is related to burn pit exposure while serving overseas.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as there was no opinion regarding its relationship to PTSD with MDD and/or service-connected conditions, including burn pit exposure.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities is remanded as there was no opinion regarding whether it is related to PTSD with MDD.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2011. The rating for bilateral pes planus prior to July 6, 2016, remains denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with insomnia is rated at 70 percent since December 22, 2010. The Board also granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder secondary to his left knee disorder.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, are found to be secondary to her service-connected urethral polyps with residual microhematuria and urinary tract infections.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.,The Board also denied service connection for a congenital heart defect, noting that it is not considered a disease or injury for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, hypertension, and cold injury residuals are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TBI claim was denied as the evidence did not show total impairment, and separate psychiatric diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder were found to be related to his panic disorder without agoraphobia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's aortic aneurysm is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and depression.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder and remanded the claim for flat feet.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an unverified claimed stressor. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered after obtaining missing records, verifying the stressor, and providing a VA mental health examination.

The Veteran's PTSD disability warrants a higher disability rating of 70 percent, effective September 23, 2010.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 21, 1997 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depression disorder. The Veteran's claim was pending and not final at that time due to a misaddressed notification letter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, migraine headaches, insomnia, tinnitus, and vision problems. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent for the entire appeal period, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, was found to be causally related to the trauma she experienced during active service. As a result, her claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current psychiatric condition and service, as well as the absence of any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and attempting to corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service stressor. The Veteran is also scheduled for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for a sleep disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.