Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and depression has been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include PTSD, depression, a respiratory disorder, TBI with insomnia and memory loss, lumbar strain/sprain, cervical DDD, and migraine headaches.

The Board has ordered a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are related to service. The remand also includes efforts to obtain inpatient records from Balboa Naval Hospital.

The Veteran's request for an effective date prior to June 27, 1996 for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is dismissed as his appeal became final due to non-appeal of a previous decision.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchial asthma, COPD, and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence. The exposure basis is presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to low back disorder, and depression as secondary to low back disorder due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they are no longer relevant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically depression, as secondary to gonorrhea. The evidence did not show a physiological relationship between the psychiatric disability and treatment for venereal disease during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disorders, including depression and mood disorder with anxious features, as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease. Additionally, the right leg scar and the rating for coronary artery disease are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with alcohol dependence, to include depression and anxiety disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. His prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 60 percent, which is the highest schedular rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 7527. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU as his combined disability rating (prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction) is only 60 percent.

The Board has remanded six issues for further development and opinion, including right shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, head injury residuals, depression, and cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and private medical records. The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a pilonidal cystectomy with scarring need to be evaluated again.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with psychotic feature, is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headache disability.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder without agoraphobia and major depression has been shown to be productive of total occupational and social impairment since January 11, 2008. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for major depressive disorder and acquired psychiatric disorders. Service connection is also granted, with a positive opinion provided by a private psychologist indicating that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), PTSD, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is based on secondary service connection to a service-connected condition. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran. Tinnitus has not been linked to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rash, nausea associated with skin rashes, headaches associated with skin rashes, and depression associated with skin rashes. The issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also remanded due to their inextricable link to the reopened issue.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and for additional development in connection with his claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataracts, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, stroke residuals, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety).