Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and moderate anxiety disorder, is at least as likely as not related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC were denied. The RO granted service connection for depressive disorder, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension with specific effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an independent medical expert opinion regarding whether the Veteran's MRSA infection was caused by VA negligence or unforeseeable event, and if so, addressing all residual disabilities associated with the MRSA infection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his incarceration, requiring an audiological and psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his tinnitus and mental health conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to comply with remand directives. A new VA examination is required to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD, are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for tinea cruris, tinea pedis, tinea versicolor and onychomycosis were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for MDD was granted due to its relationship with service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction.,The claims for tension headaches, GERD, and OSA were all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression (claimed as anxiety and nervous condition) has been reopened, but the Board is remanding the case to obtain a new VA medical opinion regarding whether his current major depressive disorder is related to his military service or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70 percent, effective December 22, 2011. A TDIU based solely on the service-connected lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities is granted since January 15, 2010. Effective December 22, 2011, SMC at the 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) rate is granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's service connection claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for anxiety, depression, anger issues, sleep disturbance, and paresthesia conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus and remanded his claims for service connection for other conditions due to lack of timely NODs, but found that the July 2015 rating decision denying back condition and temporary total disability was final. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying a motor vehicle accident stressor during active duty service in Germany and for a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted with effective dates of March 18, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current mental health conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 17, 2010 for the award of service connection for depressive disorder. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right elbow disability are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the earlier effective date claim granted in this decision. The Veteran's increased rating claims for major depressive disorder and TBI are also remanded due to their interrelation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder causes him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus granting special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including chest pain, left side pain, right side pain, and depression, have been granted. However, the claim for a bilateral eye condition remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and needs further examination for service connection of psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional records, particularly regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.