Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records and a mental disorders examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's suicide was related to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 7, 2014 for the grants of service connection for various conditions associated with his back disability have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence in the claims file prior to March 7, 2014 warranting an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for spinal fusion with degenerative arthritis of the spine from March 7, 2014 to December 27, 2018 has been denied. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to request any available medical records from the Ohio National Guard.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and procedural issues. The Veteran's spouse must provide authorization for additional private medical records, which were previously rejected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of all reported stressors and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased disability evaluations for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma and major depressive disorder with anxiety, both currently rated at 50% and 70%, respectively. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran contends that these conditions began during service or were caused by events in service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was granted, and she is now rated at 70% disability. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU due to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and remanded several other issues including increased ratings for his wrist and ankle conditions, as well as a TDIU determination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The Veteran's current depression and anxiety are being evaluated in relation to his claimed head injury from military service.

The appeals of the denial of service connection for PTSD and depression due to alcohol and substance abuse are dismissed because no valid appeal has been received.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination and lack of proper notification. The case will be returned after further development, including scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, other specified depressive disorder, and other specified personality disorder, that began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's MDD and panic disorder without agoraphobia are granted as secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine with residuals of lumbar laminectomy and urinary incontinence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular pain and a psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.