Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant, through his authorized representative, requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with major depression is being evaluated again as her symptoms have worsened. Additionally, the claim of service connection for fibromyalgia secondary to PTSD/Depression needs to be adjudicated before addressing individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right hip disability due to inadequate examinations and lack of consideration of lay statements regarding in-service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were granted in a December 2014 rating decision, but the Board found that no earlier effective date could be assigned as there was no evidence of an earlier claim. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's GAD and Major Depressive Disorder are rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board also granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression secondary to his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's initial 70 percent evaluation for unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The TDIU claim is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and other relevant documents.

The Board has remanded the case due to a substitution determination being required before service connection for a hip disability can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD, were denied. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for anxiety and depression, and there was no verified stressor to support the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's left foot condition is rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran’s MDD is now rated at 70 percent.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of low back disability and psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, with the condition being related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder is denied due to insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected back and ankle disabilities. Service connection for neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for new evidence, including VA treatment records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, finding that there is no current evidence of a psychiatric disability during or shortly before the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from February 8, 2016.

The Veteran's death was due to an automobile accident while intoxicated, precluding VA benefits. The appeal is about determining if the Veteran had a service-connected psychiatric disorder that caused or aggravated his alcohol abuse.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that his current psychiatric disability pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service.