Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for his daily needs, requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds that he needed assistance with all activities of daily living due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision. The case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions on various conditions.

The Board found that discontinuance of VR&E services based on a negative feasibility determination was proper due to the Veteran's significant physical health issues and extensive limitations in his activities. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied in October 2017, and new evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological condition (to include anxiety and depression) is reopened. The Board finds that the newly submitted evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied in October 2017, and new evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied attorney fees as the Veteran did not file an NOD for the service connection claims in December 2016 and March 2017 rating decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim is reopened due to new evidence, but the issue of whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to military service remains unresolved.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been granted a 100% disability rating for the entire appeal period, effective from January 28, 2012. The right foot Morton’s neuroma remains at a 10% initial disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for new examinations. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is also remanded.

The claim for a higher rating for MDD is denied.,Claims for service connection for various conditions are all denied, including those related to the Veteran's lower extremities and eyes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss due to additional development being required.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. However, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder, the case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted for gastroenteritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety), hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and OSA. Service connection was also granted for OSA as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 13, 2011 for service connection of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and related issues are dismissed. The Veteran's MDD claim was pending since December 13, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of ischemic heart disease, liver cancer, psychiatric disorders (including anxiety and depression), and hearing loss have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to schedule a new VA examination for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and addressing whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.