Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, a left foot disability, PTSD, and MDD due to the need for further evidentiary development. Specifically, VA treatment records from before May 2007 at San Juan VAMC should be obtained, as well as any untranslated documents in Spanish.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and PTSD due to the need for a VA examination and opinions regarding the issues.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was incurred while in service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on the evidence showing they were present during active duty.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a psychiatric disability, characterized as major depressive disorder, is denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a skin disability, characterized as acne keloidalis, is denied.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) claimed as essential tremor is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for BPH, HTN, and an acquired psychiatric condition are granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence provided by the Veteran, which raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim for service connection. A VA examination is required to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorder was caused by military service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and readjudication, including the effective dates for service connection and ratings for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims are also being deferred due to other pending matters such as a claim for service connection for bladder cancer.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for hypertension and denied a higher initial rating for MDD. The case was remanded to determine if there should be an earlier effective date for service connection of MDD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration, Parkinson’s Disease, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder are remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need of aid and attendance is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions as the appellant passed away during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are granted, but the case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 10, 2003 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The earliest date of entitlement is more than one year prior to the date of claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The Board also found that the evidence supports a finding of service connection due to the onset of the condition during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and a need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's ED is caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder due to a lack of an opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression and anxiety, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. The diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD are considered sequelae or symptoms of his nonservice-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to October 25, 2011 for the award of service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded due to new and material evidence having been received.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is reopened based on additional VA treatment records showing X-ray evidence of degenerative changes and a diagnosis of rotator cuff disorder, which may be related to the in-service injury. The claim for service connection for a left hand disorder (secondary to a left shoulder disorder) and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it, and he was satisfied with his current disability rating for depressive disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his conditions.