Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disorder, right ankle disorder, and psychiatric condition. The claims are now remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, as he does not have permanent and total disability affecting one or more lower extremities, nor does he have blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 20/200 or less. The Veteran also does not have service-connected disabilities involving both hands, burn injuries, or inhalational injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a headache disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, as secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The reasons include unclear medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective January 30, 2014. The Veteran also meets the schedular requirement for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from May 29, 2014.

The Veteran's somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain (claimed as depression) is rated at 30 percent prior to October 2, 2016 and at 70 percent thereafter.,Effective October 2, 2016, the Veteran is granted a 100 percent evaluation for his service-connected somatic symptom disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer and depression as secondary to testicular cancer due to incomplete documentation of his entrance examination, potential pre-existing condition, and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The VA will need to obtain missing treatment records from specific VA medical centers.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must make efforts to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and any inpatient or clinical records from Fort Ord.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for service-connected acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae, and hypertension have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the disorders and service. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have these conditions and they are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not ready for final decision due to incomplete development, including obtaining additional medical records and clarifying the number of scars status post lumbar spine surgery. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating from February 25, 2015 to October 20, 2017. The initial higher ratings for PTSD and dismissal of the TBI claim are all in effect.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, NOS is dismissed. The rating for his back disability is denied. The appeals for the right and left foot disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and depression. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry into service for any pre-existing conditions, including mental health issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart condition and depression, as secondary to a heart condition due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.,Additional examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s unspecified depressive disorder is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s headaches are due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's sleep disturbance (including sleep apnea and insomnia) claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s athlete's foot is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia with bilateral leg pain claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s hypertension is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's right knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's left knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's skin rash on face and head claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with anxiety, intermittent explosive disorder, and chronic adjustment disorder due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.