Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on his symptoms.

The Board has denied an earlier effective date for service connection of unspecified depressive disorder and has remanded the issue of initial rating for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with psychosis and granted it, finding that there is equipoise of evidence in favor of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. The remand is due to a lack of adequate etiology opinion regarding whether any current psychiatric disorders are related to service and if they were aggravated by his bilateral hearing loss, left thumb injury, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, and the case is being remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in 2012 due to lack of evidence linking the condition to military service. The case is now reopened, and a new examination is required to determine if any current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD; right and left foot disabilities; bilateral hearing loss; and tinnitus.

The Veteran's other trauma and stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete treatment records, outdated examinations, and the need for a VA examination for PTSD. The claims will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for major depressive disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and information about his employment history.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was initially rated at 50 percent prior to September 23, 2015. Effective from that date, the rating was increased to 70 percent. The Veteran's claim for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right cerebrovascular accident (CVA) residuals. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for PTSD with depressive disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support such a determination prior to June 8, 2011.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional records from SSA.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder and left upper extremity disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating, but did find that he met the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate reasons and bases provided in the previous decision regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's depressive symptoms may be secondary to her service-connected gynecological condition, and VA medical opinions are needed to address whether any of her current non-PTSD psychiatric disabilities are directly related to incidents during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his psychiatric disorder has been dismissed because he withdrew the appeal before the Board could make a decision.