Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of sleep apnea, idiopathic anaphylaxis, and diabetes mellitus. The petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. However, the appeal for service connection for depression disorder secondary to service-connected disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his current psychiatric disabilities are related to in-service stressors or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the nature and origin of his acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety with panic attacks. The case will be reviewed after obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified depressive disorder, is related to his service and granted this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's mental health disabilities were related to service or his service-connected conditions, and if VA staff failed to exercise proper care in prescribing medications.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were rated at a 50% disability rating from May 8, 2018 to April 15, 2019. After the VA examination on April 15, 2019, the rating was increased to 70%. The Veteran experienced significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is denied. The Veteran's depression and right shoulder tendonitis with degenerative arthritis are both rated at their maximum levels, but the Veteran's headaches secondary to trauma do not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Veteran's depressive disorder is being remanded for further examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates in all three issues: TDIU, SMC based on housebound status, and DEA benefits. The reasons were that these issues had already been decided by a final January 2019 decision.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 28, 2011, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with other specified depressive disorder is denied. The case is remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for somatic symptom disorder with major depressive disorder was denied. The Veteran also received entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

An effective date of March 27, 2009, is granted for the grant of service connection for PTSD. For the rating period from March 27, 2009 to February 7, 2012, a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Board has stayed adjudication of all cases affected by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, including this case.,Service connection is denied for erectile dysfunction, depression, bilateral sinus condition, upper and lower teeth problem, bilateral CTS, stomach condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral lung condition.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. The effective date remains to be determined as the Veteran did not submit claims until June 23, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records, specifically regarding the Veteran's periods of Active Component Duty Training (ACDUTRA) and Reserve service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bipolar disorder and manic depression.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for clarification on suicide attempts. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.