Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia with possible psychosis, began in service or is otherwise related to service. The scope of the claim was improperly narrowed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relationship to his military service. The VA needs to obtain additional treatment records and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to additional evidence received. The issues include increased rating for PTSD, effective date determination, service connection for female sexual arousal disorder, vulvar dermatitis, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, and headaches due to inadequate development of evidence. The Veteran's STRs pertaining to his period of ACDUTRA from February 1993 to June 1993 need to be obtained, as well as a separation examination report and hospitalization records if available. An appropriate VA examination is needed for both the psychiatric disorder and headaches claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, migraine headaches, and erectile dysfunction are granted. The claim for service connection for a recurrent left third finger disability is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate consideration of the adequacy and staleness of previous VA examinations, particularly regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and its relationship with passive-dependent personality disorder, as well as secondary service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran needs a new VA psychiatric examination to provide these necessary opinions.

The Veteran's claims for IHD/CAD, hypertension, and prostate cancer have been granted. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and persistent depressive disorder) and a respiratory disability (shortness of breath) are being remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU based on service-connected migraine headaches is granted, and he is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for depression, PTSD, and major depressive disorder with psychotic features was granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed. Service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to service-connected right ankle disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (mood disorder, depressive disorder) as secondary to service-connected right ankle disability are both granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic pain syndrome is related to his service-connected disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder (claimed as PTSD), depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings, has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board found that there is insufficient competent medical evidence to make a fully informed decision on the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his chronic cervical strain and unspecified depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since March 20, 2014.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus condition and breathing condition), chronic sinusitis (claimed as sinus condition and breathing condition), and depressive disorder with depressive features are all granted service connection due to exposure to fine particulate matter during deployment in Southwest Asia.,The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied finality, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for several issues, and the Board has remanded three new issues: entitlement to increased ratings for gouty arthritis and right knee disability, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or aggravated her sleep apnea.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, to include anxiety and depression, are at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected neurogenic bladder condition. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 18, 2019.