Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, right foot contusion with metatarsalgia, cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, residuals of a fractured right index finger, and residuals of a fractured right little finger. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records, scheduling examinations to assess the severity of these disabilities, and issuing an SSOC regarding the April 2016 denial of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The appeal for service connection of anxiety, depression, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it is due to his own willful misconduct during service, specifically his unauthorized absences and other disciplinary issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for recurrent microscopic hematuria, urethritis, left knee ACL ligament tear and arthritis, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability (including major depressive disorder and PTSD) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection are not supported by current medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development. The Board finds that new evidence has been submitted which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues of left arm pain, left leg pain, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability are all being reviewed.

The Board has found the VA examination inadequate and remanded for further evaluation due to missing relevant evidence in the Veteran's records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and determination of the merits of various service connection claims.

The Board denied the reopening of service connection for sinusitis and a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The evidence did not show that sinusitis worsened during service or that there was a link between the psychiatric disabilities and service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD and adenocarcinoma of the prostate, finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran for further examination and development, including obtaining medical records from an emergency room visit in May 2015. The issues include service connection for a right shoulder condition, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and rating greater than 10 percent for migraines.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The rating reflects significant impairment in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, suicidal ideation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, but the other conditions are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic dyspnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder) have been denied. The Veteran also had his claim for a higher rating for neurodermatitis denied.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service or being related to in-service events. The Veteran's current diagnoses were found to be unrelated to service, with chronic dyspnea and psychiatric disorders attributed to deconditioning and other non-service-related factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding treatment records and need for examinations. The issues include service connection, increased ratings, and a higher evaluation for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle condition and major depressive disorder are granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder due to his request through his attorney of record to withdraw the appeal. The issues of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability, service connection for a left elbow disorder, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and panic attacks have not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.