Depression decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder and anxiety disorder due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional medical inquiry due to incomplete or insufficient opinions in the July 2015 VA examination report and a November 2016 private opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are rated at 70 percent, while other conditions receive increased ratings. The decision does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and therefore grants a total disability rating by reason of individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided that further development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be remanded to allow for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee arthritis and anterior cruciate ligament tear, major depressive disorder, undiagnosed multi-symptom Gulf War condition, and TDIU due to incomplete examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, and the claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70% rating. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and tinnitus, render him unemployable due to his mental health conditions. The Board granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and effective dates have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw all of his pending appeals before the Board.

The Veteran's MDD with anxious distress and insomnia disorder prior to March 19, 2018 is rated at 30 percent.,Peripheral vertigo has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, claimed as PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for stressor verification.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of depression began in or is related to his military service. Service connection was denied for schizoaffective disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and major depressive disorder were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities. The decision also reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and polysubstance abuse, but denied service connection for schizoid personality disorder. The claim for schizoid personality disorder was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's increased disability rating claim for his service-connected depression with anxiety is being remanded due to the need for updated VA mental health examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral foot disability (claimed as pes planus/pain), headaches, and a psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.,Further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions or their residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, depression, and sleep disturbance. The Veteran served in Latin America as an intelligence officer and testified that he experienced stressors related to his work there.