Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders. The RO must attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event that would support the claim.,Service connection for PTSD is also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor. The Veteran's psychiatric disability other than PTSD, specifically persistent depressive disorder, is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD (specifically persistent depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and separate ratings for right and left knee instability. The Veteran's TDIU benefits are also granted. However, the issues of higher ratings for his knees and bilateral hearing loss must be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to her service-connected irritable bowel syndrome and pes planus. The case needs further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol dependence is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective August 6, 2015. The appeal for higher initial ratings on other issues remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder in early remission. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and a nervous twitch has been reopened. The Board has also expanded the claim to include consideration of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of her diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is found to be related to his military service.,The Veteran's headaches are determined to be secondary to a service-connected acquired psychological disorder (depression).,There is no evidence of tinnitus that was incurred in and due to the Veteran's time in service.,The Veteran's back condition did not have its onset during service or within one year of discharge, nor is it shown to be causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.,Hepatitis B is not found to have begun during active service or be otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran does not have a left foot condition that was incurred in and due to his time in service.,The Veteran does not have a right foot condition that was incurred in and due to his time in service.,Hypertension is not found to be related to the Veteran's military service or manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran does not have a skin condition disorder that was incurred in and due to his time in service.,The Veteran does not have a sleep disorder that was incurred in or due to his time in service.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for Depression Disorder due to Parkinson’s disease is granted, with a maximum rating of 70 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and uncompleted VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide updated contact information so that he can be scheduled for additional medical evaluations.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (previously claimed as PTSD) and service connection for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to clarify his diagnoses and determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain a new examination and provide a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran’s disability since the initial claim date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress. The decision finds that his anxiety disorders are at least as likely as not related to an in-service anxiety disorder manifesting from fear of deployment in a war zone.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has granted a higher evaluation of 70 percent effective from January 23, 2020.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits are remanded due to his current employment issues and the need for a new vocational rehabilitation assessment considering his service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is also instructed to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, mood disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's claim is more accurately characterized as seeking any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and headaches due to head trauma have been granted increased ratings of 70% each, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance of another or being housebound.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lateral ankle sprain and has remanded his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.