Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and procedural issues. The Veteran's spouse must provide authorization for additional private medical records, which were previously rejected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of all reported stressors and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased disability evaluations for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma and major depressive disorder with anxiety, both currently rated at 50% and 70%, respectively. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran contends that these conditions began during service or were caused by events in service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was granted, and she is now rated at 70% disability. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU due to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and remanded several other issues including increased ratings for his wrist and ankle conditions, as well as a TDIU determination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The Veteran's current depression and anxiety are being evaluated in relation to his claimed head injury from military service.

The appeals of the denial of service connection for PTSD and depression due to alcohol and substance abuse are dismissed because no valid appeal has been received.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination and lack of proper notification. The case will be returned after further development, including scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, other specified depressive disorder, and other specified personality disorder, that began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's MDD and panic disorder without agoraphobia are granted as secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine with residuals of lumbar laminectomy and urinary incontinence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular pain and a psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back strain and major depressive disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder and episodic alcohol abuse has rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment between January 29, 2010 and April 6, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Abuse in Remission is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his current severity level.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically his depression and dementia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his service experiences.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD was withdrawn by the Veteran at his July 2019 hearing. The Board dismissed the remaining claims of service connection for low back and neck disabilities, bilateral leg and hand disabilities (numbness), and a psychiatric disorder.,Service connection was denied for all issues due to lack of evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.