Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and procurement of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development due to new medical evidence submitted after a previous supplemental statement of the case.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is service connected based on credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor. Service connection for PTSD and a depressive disorder are granted. The Veteran also has been diagnosed with porphyria cutanea tarda related to his service. Other claims have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board finds a 70 percent rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including hearing loss, gout, stomach disorder, and psychiatric disability. The Board has determined that further examination is necessary to address the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran claims service connection for gout (of the left knee and feet) and a stomach disorder. A VA examination is needed to determine if these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for varicose veins and granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The left knee disability is not considered distinct from the service-connected peripheral vascular disease, but it is not determined whether it is aggravated by that condition. Service connection for anxiety disorder and depression are also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including an adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety, were not incurred in service or related to any in-service event or illness. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service or a pre-existing condition was aggravated by service. The diagnoses are found to be less likely related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Decision Review Officer hearing due to the Veteran's request and will then consider the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability did not manifest during or as a result of service and is not related to any service-connected condition. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back pain and acquired psychiatric disability are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder with Chronic Dyssomnia, and Major Depressive Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and verifying his reported stressors. A VA psychiatric examination will also be scheduled to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis are found to be related to a period of INACDUTRA during service, resulting in service connection.,Major depressive disorder is found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, leading to service connection for this condition.,Left leg numbness (sciatica) is found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, resulting in service connection.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a reduction of the rating for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee, and thus denied the reduction. The effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted prior to April 5, 2011.

The Veteran's lung cancer and depression were not found to be related to his service, including exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is service-connected due to exposure to traumatic events during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for VA examinations and additional development of records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to outstanding VA medical records, and the Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since June 27, 2017. The symptoms have caused significant impairment in work and social functioning.