Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's adult onset fluency disorder, major depressive disorder (moderate), and panic disorder have been rated at 50% since March 20, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and hearing loss, requiring further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his major depressive disorder and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's initial rating for left inguinal hernia remains denied, and his psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence on service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors related to PTSD. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are diagnosed, and a new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders. The VA examiner found that there is not enough evidence to link these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection due to incomplete records, need for additional examinations, and need to verify stressors. The issues of TDIU are also inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its previous decision regarding whether VA's duty to provide a VA examination or opinion was met.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD is granted. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is evaluated at 10 percent, and the issue of increased evaluation is denied. A remand is ordered for a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and TDIU due to the intertwining nature of these claims. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is now remanded as it is inextricably linked with the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which the Board finds requires additional development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, and MDD, are found to have started during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

Your appeal for an increased rating for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is being reviewed again with a focus on in-service head trauma and its relation to his current condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, as secondary to his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae. The evidence did not support a finding of a causal relationship between the service-connected condition and any current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is reopened and the appeal is granted. The case is remanded to obtain VA treatment records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the onset of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination using DSM-IV criteria. The examiner must determine if the conditions are related to service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's tinnitus based on his credible testimony of in-service noise exposure, despite not meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability.