Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service or any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence showing additional periods of service on the USS Aeolus during which the Veteran's claimed stressor may have occurred. The Veteran also has been diagnosed with depressive disorder and severe recurrent major depressive disorder, and chronic pain from his service-connected bilateral ankle disability affects his life.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 29, 2011 for service connection of moderate chronic lumbosacral strain and bipolar disorder are denied. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the VA needs to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected conditions and if it was incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and memory loss, including an unspecified depressive disorder, are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for depression was granted as the evidence supports that his depression began during his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, is causally related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the claim for a higher rating for depressive disorder starting January 31, 2018.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as depression or a dysthymic disorder, which was already service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was manifested by not more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board denied the claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and psychiatric disability due to lack of a VA examination addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD. Additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for major depressive disorder and has determined that his diabetes mellitus disability aggravates his current depression. The decision also grants a rating for his diabetes mellitus disability.

The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (excluding PTSD) is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if service connection can be granted due to a current diagnosis of depressive disorder NOS related to tension headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence showing that any acquired psychiatric disorder pre-existed service or was aggravated by service. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination to determine if their current conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD and depressive disorder. Additional development is needed, including verifying in-service stressors and assessing the relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew from the appeal all claims related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD with major depressive disorder and a cognitive disorder, dry eye syndrome with eyelid cysts, and TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.