Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection to reopen for respiratory condition has been granted. The claims for weight loss, allergic rhinitis, neck disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and alcohol abuse have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the diagnoses of atypical stress disorder, anxiety disorder NOS, and bipolar disorder type I, mixed.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and anxiety secondary to colon cancer) due to a lack of compliance with DSM-V criteria in the previous VA examination. The Veteran is to be provided another VA examination to determine if he has a current diagnosis of a mental disability that conforms to DSM-V criteria, and whether it is related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU based on PTSD was denied. The case of hypertension service connection is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to conflicting clinical records and the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The appeal for the hepatitis C claim is dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal.,The vision loss and depression claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected IVDS is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and depression are remanded as they may be related to or aggravated by his service-connected IVDS. A VA examination will be conducted to determine this relationship.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, and plantar fasciitis are remanded as they may be related to his service-connected IVDS. A VA examination will be conducted to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with depressive disorder NOS (claimed as dysthymia and depression) associated with sinusitis is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board denied entitlement to an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD under either DSM-IV or DSM-5. Additional etiology opinions are needed, and VA treatment records from Massachusetts VAMC and Lake Baldwin CBOC should be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand is necessary to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities.

The claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The claims for heart disease, hypertension, residuals of malaria, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including readjudication of the claim for an increased initial disability rating for depression and consideration of TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular bases. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not met the disability rating percentage thresholds for TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence in some cases, particularly regarding the severity of his major depressive disorder.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, ear condition, and low back condition are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and aggravation of the Veteran's depressive disorder during service.

The Veteran's claims for Parkinsonism, Lewy body dementia, and depressive disorder have been denied as these conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disease and major depressive disorder, both related to asbestos exposure. The decision is final as no new and material evidence was presented.