Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for insomnia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression disorders), and PTSD due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service records and treatment records received after July 2022 need to be considered.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye condition, depression, right knee degenerative arthritis, high blood pressure (hypertension), left hip arthritis (status post hip replacement), and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and other conditions caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his OSA.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent from April 25, 2014. An earlier effective date of April 25, 2014 for the TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to adjudicate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms have been variously assessed as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD. There is a history of in-service stressors that may be associated with his current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that a VA examination should be scheduled to address the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal request from the appellant and his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back epidermal inclusion cyst, allergic rhinitis, and psychiatric disability (depression, stress, anxiety, and homicidal ideation) have been denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has denied the readjudication of service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and depression as there is no new and relevant evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder and epilepsy, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and/or tinnitus are found to be at least as likely the cause of his migraine headaches, warranting a grant of service connection for these headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified depressive disorder, is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and skin rashes are denied. The claim for chronic left knee injury-joint pain is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's contentions about onset during service are considered, but a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, allergies, a right leg disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome, hair loss, sleep apnea, and low back and neck disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is also denied.

The Veteran's rating for PTSD and MDD was improperly reduced from 100% to 70%, and the 100% rating is restored.

The Board has granted a 100% disability rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder) effective July 29, 2019. The decision is mixed as some conditions were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 14, 2018 was denied as the evidence did not show that she continuously pursued her original claim for PTSD and the legal authority governing effective dates is clear and specific.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is found to be proximately due to his herpes genitalis, and therefore granted for secondary service connection. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending as a remand is required.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disabilities, allergic rhinitis, kidney disability, ED, GERD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, shoulder disabilities, liver disability, and lung disability. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected physical disabilities, including cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease, right elbow bone spur, left ankle chip fracture, left foot hallux valgus, and right foot bunionectomy.