Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because a timely substantive appeal was not filed within the prescribed period following the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, are granted as service connection is established based on in-service sexual and physical assault.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but the issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and warts on both hands, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of April 13, 2014. The Board granted an effective date for the TDIU claim on that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for depression as there is no competent medical evidence linking this condition to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, left lower extremity condition, and right lower extremity condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, depression, and asthma have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, and frequent panic attacks. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective date issues are remanded due to missing VA and private treatment records, insufficient VA examination reports, and need for new examinations.

The Board found new and material evidence for some claims but denied them based on lack of service connection criteria, while others were granted due to reopening the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and need for an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, has been denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Board also granted service connection for PTSD as it is at least as likely as not related to in-service stressors during a rough sea voyage.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's service records and the need for further verification of his periods of active service, as well as obtaining missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD were rated as 30% disabling prior to November 14, 2014, and increased to 50% thereafter. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder makes him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder and tension headaches have been granted service connection.,An effective date of December 3, 2015 has been established for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is being remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.