Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and depressive disorder are granted.,An initial rating of 50 percent for tension headaches is granted, effective December 2017.

The Board has directed that the Veteran be afforded a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), including major depressive disorder, is related to service. The Veteran's request for rescheduling due to inclement weather was granted, and he should be scheduled for another examination.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to respiratory failure, bilateral pleural effusion, severe congestive heart failure, and cardiomyopathy. The appellant contends that the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder NOS caused or contributed to his fatal heart disease. The Board finds a remand necessary for an opinion on whether the service-connected conditions were principal or contributory causes of death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU. The missing records, including VA treatment records prior to January 2012 and from August 2018 to present, as well as any further education, training, and employment information since November 2011, need to be obtained. Additionally, the Veteran needs to undergo new VA examinations for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, TMJ dysfunction, gastroesophageal disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA examinations are needed for a comprehensive evaluation of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence of a link between the Veteran's current symptoms and an in-service stressor. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndromes as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability. The cervical disorder and major depression with anxious mood are also granted on a secondary basis.

The appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination, compliance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5) notice, and obtaining of outstanding records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding private treatment records and additional development of asbestos exposure during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The appeals for increased ratings on right thumb injury residuals, right carpal tunnel syndrome (excluding post-surgical convalescence), tinea versicolor, and individual unemployability have also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression. The claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits based on countable income from June 2009 is also remanded.

The Veteran's back condition and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted service connection. The remaining issues of service connection for a bilateral foot condition, scar, sleep condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and nonservice-connected pension benefits due to issues related to his character of discharge from active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a neck disorder and depression due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, cervical spine injury, lumbar spine condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, heart condition, prostate condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, and seizure disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and other specific trauma and stressor-related disorder are granted. Service connection is also established for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right leg disability, cellulitis, telangiectasia, photoaging, sebaceous hyperplasia, actinic keratosis, and herpes. An effective date earlier than July 22, 2015 for left lower leg laceration with infection and drainage is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a current VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected depressive disorder and PTSD symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for fibromyalgia due to Gulf War hazards as due to an undiagnosed illness is denied.,Service connection for abnormal menses (menstrual disorder) due to Gulf War hazards as due to an undiagnosed illness is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for atrial fibrillation and GERD have been dismissed. The issue of an effective date for PTSD has been granted to February 3, 2010. The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder).