Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder with alcoholism, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for total disability rating based upon individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder have been reopened due to new evidence, and both conditions are now granted as they are related to his in-service stressors.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and bipolar II disorder. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, as well as the claim for TDIU due to mental health impacts on employment. A new examination is needed to assess current diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder was rated at 50 percent from June 1, 2009 to April 28, 2011. The claim for an increased rating throughout the appeal period is denied.

The Veteran's MDD has been rated at 70 percent since March 14, 2002. A TDIU is granted effective July 29, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and anxiety/depression due to potential personal assault during service. Additional development is needed, including a VA examination for PTSD based on military sexual trauma and an evaluation of his current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, may have increased in severity since his last VA examination. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing evidence and inadequate examination. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, need further evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is found to be related to military sexual trauma (MST) in service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning February 9, 2016, but not earlier. The effective date of the TDIU award is fixed in accordance with the facts found and was factually ascertainable that the Veteran was unemployable within one year prior to February 9, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, drug use, and erectile dysfunction. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated VA medical records and provide a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for personality disorder NOS with schizoid traits and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression NOS and cognitive disorder NOS. The Board found that there was no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during service, and the Veteran's memory issues were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence.,Further evaluation and documentation are needed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and related psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and panic disorder, is granted. The claim for a right wrist disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, a low back condition, a cardiovascular condition, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded as well.

Service connection is granted for lumbosacral strain and PTSD/MDD. The issue of service connection for a bilateral eye condition remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the issues of increased evaluation for right ankle disability, service connection for right hip disorder, service connection for right leg disorder, and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression with anxiety) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety reaction, nervous disorder, and depressive disorder is granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder with anxiety and panic disorder agoraphobia. The TDIU claim is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.