Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic low back pain with lumbar spine multi-level degenerative disc disease was reopened and granted. The claim for arthritis was denied, as there is no evidence of arthritis in any body part treated during service or within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's depressive disorder remains at a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder, and granted a 10% disability rating for tinnitus. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and examination, including a review of VA treatment records and an opinion on whether any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, panic disorder, and depressive disorder). The low back disability is considered to be due to deconditioning including excessive tone in the lower extremities and weak abdominal muscles. Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for insomnia, but the denial of this issue remains unchanged.

The case is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and several other conditions. Additional development is required to determine whether the Veteran served on land in Vietnam, which could impact his service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cerebral accident, anxiety (non-specific nervous complaints), severe alcohol abuse, and major depression. The decision found that the Veteran's cerebral accident was due to his own willful misconduct with alcohol abuse, and that his anxiety, alcohol abuse, and major depression were not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder, is remanded as there are no VA or private medical records available to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, adjustment disorder, and depression. However, the claim for PTSD remains denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity in the medical records regarding the diagnosis and etiology of PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is now pending with additional development required.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is related to his military service. The issue of treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is moot as the Veteran has established service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with PTSD is being remanded due to the addition of new medical evidence and the need to review outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has resulted in social and occupational impairment, but not to the extent that it would warrant a higher rating. The Board granted a 50 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in diagnoses and need for further verification of stressors. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, will be evaluated again with new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and completion of the TDIU application.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's service-connected lower extremity neuropathies and other conditions necessitate regular aid and attendance, which would affect his eligibility for SMC at a higher rate.

The Board has ordered further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia, increased rating for schizophrenia, and secondary service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran is also seeking a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances due to incomplete medical opinions and treatment records. The Veteran's symptoms of adjustment disorder, attention deficit disorder, depression, and sleep disturbances are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (specifically major depressive disorder with anxious distress) is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing dysthymic disorder increased in severity during service and granting the benefit of doubt to find a current disability related to service.