Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, depression, migraines, and bilateral shin splints. The claim for service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and requires additional medical opinions regarding the service connection for OSA, specifically addressing whether MDD aggravated OSA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and unspecified depressive disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss or a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and unspecified depressive disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss or a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and unspecified depressive disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss or a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder, is at least as likely as not related to his traumatic experiences in the Navy. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD was granted with an effective date prior to June 15, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for unspecified depressive disorder, OSA, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are currently rated at 70 percent, 50 percent, and 30 percent respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and MDD, so the appeals are dismissed as there is no longer a question to be decided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depression, and anxiety was denied because no new and relevant evidence had been submitted since the December 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD is granted. The appeals to reopen claims for a psychophysiological genitourinary reaction and a lower back condition are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, and the Board has denied an increased rating in excess of this level.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and a need for further development, including scheduling a new VA mental health evaluation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and major depressive disorder, was found to have occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to August 26, 2016, and with deficiencies in most areas as of August 26, 2016. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connection for PLS was granted. The appeal regarding the initial disability evaluation for his depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left quadrant pain, chronic fatigue, panic attacks, and chronic sleep impairment as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches were granted effective July 30, 2015. The claim for service connection of bronchitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. Claims for cervical strain and rheumatoid arthritis are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board has found that the RO violated regulatory duty by not accepting prior favorable findings regarding the Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD and MDD without first establishing clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut these findings. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and incomplete evidence.