Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, OSA, and headache disability. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for reopening of his service connection claims for various conditions due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted for the entire claim period. The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression, are related to his service in Saudi Arabia. The evidence is in equipoise regarding this relationship.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA medical records and requests the Veteran to provide them. The claims for service connection will be remanded until these records are obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis, residuals of pneumonia, and lichen planus of the bilateral wrists and ankles due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological condition, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, should be remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The case will need further development with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 27, 2014 for service connection of major depressive disorder and headaches have been remanded. The claim for a higher initial rating for major depressive disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder dislocation and major depressive disorder, have prevented him from securing or maintaining employment prior to March 20, 2017. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in March 2012, and the Board finds no new and material evidence to reopen this claim. The Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder and anxiety).,Service connection has been established for lumbosacral spondylosis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy with effective dates of April 25, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for headaches is remanded. The Board notes that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the pending claims and must be addressed concurrently.,Initial ratings are being remanded for lumbosacral spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's major depression, opioid use disorder, and alcohol use disorder are rated at 50 percent. The disability ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with IVDS and right lower extremity radiculopathy are restored to their previous levels.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety and depression as there is no current diagnosis of any such condition under DSM-5.

Service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and a mental health disorder (depression) is denied. Ratings are granted for right shoulder strain with osteoarthrosis and right ankle arthrosis, but ratings are denied for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence on record regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly his left knee disability. The issues of service connection for headaches, high blood pressure, a sleep disability, tinnitus, depression, and left knee disability are being referred back to the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg condition and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD). The decision found no current disability related to the Veteran's left leg, but remanded the PTSD claim due to unclear character of discharge from his second period of service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of depression due to new and material evidence. However, it denied the claim as there is no medical evidence linking the current depression to his military service.

The Veteran's paranoid delusional disorder and depressive disorder are found to have resulted from military service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The current symptoms include depression, anxiety, sleep loss, mild memory loss, loss of motivation, suicidal ideation, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances.