Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development to verify in-service stressors and obtain updated VA treatment records. A VA psychiatric examination will be scheduled to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), was granted. The previous denial of PTSD was overturned due to new evidence showing that the current MDD is related to service.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is presumed to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf, and he was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and MDD. The Board found that the Veteran's in-service stressors were corroborated and linked to his current conditions.

The Veteran's major depression is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating, effective from August 17, 2011. Additionally, entitlement to TDIU and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s) are also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted for a psychiatric disorder. Service connection is also granted for a skin disability.,CFS, bilateral shoulder/wrist/elbow/hand disabilities, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information regarding in-service stressors and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and increased rating for his unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding several conditions, including radiculopathy and anxiety disorders. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU claims due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found not related to his military service, and his persistent depressive disorder did not cause or aggravate his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at St. Agnes Hospital from February 24, 2018, through February 27, 2018, is granted due to the emergency nature of his alcohol-induced symptoms and the lack of feasibly available VA facilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The Veteran asserts that these conditions are related to service, but there is no evidence of any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities during service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, previously rated as PTSD, is granted a rating of 70 percent effective August 28, 2017. Effective that date, the Veteran is also granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, depression (secondary to physical conditions/persistent migraine headaches), recurrent sinusitis and rhinitis with mucus retention cyst, and status post hemorrhoidectomy has been granted. The rating for the status post hemorrhoidectomy remains at noncompensable.

The Board has remanded three issues: a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 12, 2017 and in excess of 10 percent therefrom; a rating in excess of 50 percent for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); and the SMC at the housebound rate. The remand requests obtaining missing VA audiogram results and scheduling a new VA examination for MDD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection for PTSD has been granted, but the claims for OSA and hypertension are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, specifically to obtain her VA treatment records from June 2021 to the present and VR&E records. The rating assigned and effective date are not provided.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and unverified stressor events. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence, but the issue of service connection for other psychiatric conditions remains pending.