Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his migraines, major depressive disorder with anxious distress (PTSD, anxiety disorder, memory loss), and traumatic brain injury. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability from the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to service.

The Veteran's ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities were each increased to 40 percent effective September 11, 2017. The rating for the period prior to September 11, 2017 remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, bipolar, and depression mental health are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine DDD and IVDS, left ankle OA, and OSA as secondary to cervical spine DDD and IVDS have been granted.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of service connection for various disabilities remain pending and need to be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with major depressive and substance disorders, as well as the claim for a TDIU due to inadequate evidence from previous VA examinations.

An effective date of November 4, 2004 was granted for a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected ulcer disability. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to September 21, 2005 was denied.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), migraine headaches, diverticulitis with surgical scar and hemicolectomy, hypertension secondary to diverticulitis, and depression secondary to diverticulitis have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 30, 2015 for service connection for depression and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied as these claims were not filed before that date.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 30, 2015 for service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities have also been denied. The Board notes there was no objective medical evidence of radiculopathy or other neurological disorder of the lower extremities prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for scoliosis and anxiety/depression due to missing service treatment records, particularly those from Keller Army Hospital where he was treated for a clavicle fracture and potential training accident. The Veteran is also seeking VA examination for his psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety and PTSD, is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits claim was remanded due to the need for a functional capacity evaluation considering his service-connected disabilities and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are also being remanded.

The Veteran's son is seeking benefits based on his permanent incapacity for self-support due to a mental disability. The appeal is remanded as the evidence does not clearly show if he became permanently incapable of self-support by reason of a mental condition prior to attaining 18 years of age.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current left ear hearing loss disability or psychiatric disability that is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records from the Veteran's service, including mental health treatment in 1977 at a U.S. Army hospital in Nuremburg, Germany.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the TDIU claim is granted. The left elbow disability issue remains pending due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for depression. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression, anxiety, and MDD, to include as secondary to the service-connected right rotator cuff sprain is remanded.