Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. For the period from March 14, 2019 onwards, a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to incomplete development of records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart condition resulting in a pacemaker implantation is not service-connected, and remanded for further action to consider direct service connection as well as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her sinusitis with sinus headaches. The issues of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder on a secondary basis and a rating in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis are also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for histrionic personality disorder, PTSD due to military sexual trauma, bipolar disorder, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified anxiety disorder with symptoms of depression. The AOJ is instructed to request private treatment records from TCN in Xenia, develop a claim for TDIU, issue a statement of the case regarding the earlier effective date for service connection, and readjudicate the issues considering all evidence added since the June 2018 statement of the case.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been rated at 70 percent, effective August 11, 2008. Additionally, the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for any acquired psychiatric disability, anxiety, and COPD.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection of onychomycosis, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Board has determined that further development is needed due to the inadequate November 2014 examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder has been found to result in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations related to his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder. The Veteran is given one last opportunity to provide information and attend a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a combined-effects opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variably diagnosed as PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression. The case is remanded to consider the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided that the August 2017 private DBQ for mental disorders was potentially fraudulent and therefore not considered. The case is being remanded to provide a rationale for this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, nerve disorder, PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to further development of evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and gout due to incomplete information provided by the VA examiners.