Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions provided by VA examiners and the need for updated records. The Veteran's entire service personnel record should be obtained, as well as updated VA treatment records from August 2014 to the present.

The Veteran's claims for left ankle, right ankle, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities were denied. The claim of service connection for anxiety and depression secondary to PTSD was granted. However, the Board found no current disability for the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent for coronary artery disease and service connection for depression/anxiety (claimed as secondary to service connected conditions) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of depression before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, prostate cancer residuals are denied any increase in rating beyond the current 20 percent, and he is awarded a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service in various ways. Service connection was granted for an unspecified depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain/dysfunction.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of brucellosis, and the claim for brucellosis is denied. The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50%.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee injury with chondromalacia. The earlier effective date claim for the award of a rating and service connection remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) due to the absence of a diagnosis of PTSD, as well as the lack of evidence linking MDD to service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records. The case will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Services for an initial adjudication on whether an extraschedular TDIU should be granted prior to January 28, 2015.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to have started during her military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has combined the three separate claims for depression, anxiety and phobias into a single claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The issue is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the appeal as the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal within 60 days of receiving the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding the increased ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected persistent depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess current symptoms and their impact on his daily life.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches. Service connections for sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder, NOS and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, depression, was granted. The claim for right eye macular hole with retinal detachment was denied. The claims for service connection for a right knee disability and left knee disability were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for back disability, residuals of a stroke as due to head injury, depression as due to head injury, and migraines as due to head injury are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss, depression, and eczema are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.