Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and unspecified psychosocial circumstances are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied due to unverified in-service stressors. New evidence has been submitted, including photographs and military orders, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board is remanding the case to clarify all current psychiatric diagnoses and determine their relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, depression, and arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims are now remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder NOS and major depression, has been granted a 100% rating since February 27, 2017. Additionally, SMC at the housebound rate is granted since that date.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD and MDD is granted at a 70 percent level, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits. A TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, now referred to as depression, is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, more likely than not began during military service.

Your service connection claims for PTSD and depression have been granted, but the effective date is March 13, 2018. The Board has dismissed your appeal as there are no remaining issues to address.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Depression due to insufficient evidence of a verified in-service stressor. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his claimed stressors, including a specific date range for witnessing another servicemember commit suicide by gunshot on the firing range.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, and for updated treatment records. His TDIU claim is also being remanded as he has not worked since service discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete review of the Veteran's medical records and a need for clarification of the examiner's opinion.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to the lack of verified in-service stressors and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding her claims of service connection for various conditions, including burn scars of the face, depression and anxiety disorder, right knee condition, left knee condition, sarcoidosis, left hand condition, and facial twitches.,Effective date prior to January 21, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for major depression and bipolar disorder was granted retroactively, with an effective date of March 30, 1989.

The Board denied service connection for major depression and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not reach equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during or were related to military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder is denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable rating.,Effective dates of October 4, 2011, but no earlier, are granted for service connection of cervical spine disability and associated upper extremity radiculopathies. The effective date for basic eligibility to DEA benefits and SMC on account of being housebound (SMC) is also set at this time.,The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine disability prior to December 15, 2011, and right upper extremity radiculopathy as of March 1, 2012, are remanded for further review.,An effective date prior to June 21, 2013, is denied for service connection of depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus (DM2) with intertrigo and hypertension is currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation as it does not meet the criteria for a 60 percent or 100 percent rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available prior to January 22, 2019. The evidence does not support an increase in this rating period.,The Veteran's peripheral neuritis of the left upper extremity (LUE) and right upper extremity (RUE) have both been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions.,SMC based on need for aid and attendance by another has not been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as there is insufficient evidence to make a determination on the merits.