Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner is required to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service and whether PTSD is caused by a claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, evaluation of depressive disorder and PTSD have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have worsened since his last VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine the appropriate disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that no formal or informal claim had been received prior to May 22, 2012, and that the effective date should be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of the claim to reopen, which is May 22, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lower back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for mefloquine toxicity exposure as there is no current disability linked to the Veteran's use of Mefloquine.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD are granted service connection, with a 50% initial rating for PTSD. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows he has a current diagnosis of PTSD stemming from an in-service dog bite, and there is credible supporting evidence that the stressor occurred.

The Board has denied a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction, and has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma was reopened and granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also granted, but the right knee condition, back problems, and psychiatric disorder claims are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion and the need for clarification on whether the Veteran had a diagnosis of anxiety at any time during the appeal period, and if so, whether it was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's TBI and depression are not granted service connection as there was no in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is remanded. The claim for a higher rating for MDD, earlier effective date for radial neuropathy of the right wrist, and increased rating for a right leg disability are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial in 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted for the period prior to May 14, 2015. A rating of 70 percent is assigned. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30% prior to February 17, 2014 and increased to 50% effective from February 17, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is remanded for further development and a new VA examination.