Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain employment that could be considered substantially gainful versus just marginal in comparison, and the Board finds he is entitled to a TDIU benefit.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and MDD, finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board finds that it should be remanded for a VA examination to determine its baseline level of severity prior to aggravation by his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder and lumbosacral strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no medical evidence linking her current symptoms to an in-service stressor, and the Board found that she did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, and TDIU due to individual unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new examination, as the previous one was not thorough and did not consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The effective date for the grant of a 10% rating for right ankle arthritis is being remanded due to lack of factual ascertainability within one year prior to December 28, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are conflicting medical opinions and missing records need to be obtained.,The Veteran's claim for a head injury/ TBI is being remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a seizure-like disorder is being remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10% for right ankle arthritis is being remanded as there are insufficient range of motion tests.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and needs further development, including a new VA examination for psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining records from a 1997 hospitalization and scheduling an examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service, including her military sexual trauma in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The Veteran may need further medical evaluation and treatment records to support his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, lower extremity radiculopathy, varicocele, laceration of the scalp, right shoulder separation (postoperative), and left shoulder impingement syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted separate ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, but his claims for higher ratings or effective dates were not supported by evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. The case will be returned for further evaluation and clarification of the relationship between any diagnosed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims were not granted and all requested ratings were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is remanded due to new evidence and a need for a VA examination. The earlier effective date issue related to various conditions, including PTSD, remains pending.

Your claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder as secondary to a service-connected bilateral foot condition is dismissed because your PTSD has been granted and assigned a disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorders, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is now remanded for further examination and consideration.