Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's headaches, as well as their relationship to his service-connected conditions and any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder, and restless leg syndrome have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his service experiences and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has decided the claim is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional development, including a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident and granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether it is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident. The decision does not address other conditions or issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder should be remanded to allow for a new examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his mental health conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from finding and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for depressive disorder from March 29, 2013 to May 15, 2018. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his herniated nucleus pulposus and associated radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as well as TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse. The examiner is requested to address whether these conditions are causally related to in-service events or if they preexisted service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The claim was also not granted on a secondary basis due to the lack of a diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occasional decrease in occupational and social impairment with symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, disturbances of motivation and mood, irritability, and chronic sleep impairment. The Board found a 30 percent rating adequately compensates the Veteran for his service-connected PTSD prior to May 22, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from her VA examiner regarding whether her diagnosed major depressive disorder is related to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to December 12, 2007, for his service-connected major depressive disorder as he voluntarily abandoned the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder. The Veteran's mental health conditions are found to be secondary to his PTSD, which must be corroborated. Additionally, a TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for SMC by reason of being housebound is denied, but his claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted. The Board found that the Veteran requires assistance with activities of daily living due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and depression due to VA's duty to assist in determining if these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service, including parachute jumps.