Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected depressive disorder, left knee strain with patellar tendinitis, and thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease have been REMANDED due to the need for a new examination. The current level of disability for these conditions will be reassessed.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for VA medical treatment and care in 2012, including left leg below the knee amputation, right hip replacement, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli residuals, erectile dysfunction, and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar and adjustment disorders, was partially granted by reopening the claim. However, his claim for service connection for bipolar disorder itself remains denied due to lack of in-service incurrence and no nexus between service and the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, was granted. The right shoulder disorder claim was reopened due to new evidence, but denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that the condition is related to service. The left shoulder disorder and sleep disorder claims were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for various knee disabilities, depression, and radiculopathy due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and needs a new VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are etiologically related to an in-service accident for which his lower extremities are service-connected. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and other specified depressive disorder have all been denied as not related to service or otherwise supported by evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to October 5, 2015, for a grant of service connection and assignment of a 50 percent evaluation for major depressive disorder, recurrent with alcohol use disorder in sustained full remission (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder), and for entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the same condition. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's unspecified dementia, major depression, meningioma/meningothelial meningioma, and skin lesions on back are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is awarded a 70% disability rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and an additional 20% rating for his left knee condition, bringing his combined rating to 80%. The Board also granted entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to the severity of both conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have worsened, and the Board has granted an increased rating of 70 percent for his service-connected depressive disorder (NOS) with posttraumatic stress disorder, effective October 31, 2016.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from May 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for additional psychiatric examination.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions due to the Appellant's discharge under other than honorable conditions, which is considered a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for migraine headaches was granted, and service connection for this condition is now established.,Service connection for major depressive disorder has been denied due to the lack of evidence showing an increase in severity since August 7, 2016.

The Board has not fully addressed the Veteran's claims regarding his acquired psychiatric disabilities, and a remand is required to obtain an adequate opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was denied. Her bilateral eye disability case is remanded.