Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been rated at 70 percent, effective August 11, 2008. Additionally, the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for any acquired psychiatric disability, anxiety, and COPD.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection of onychomycosis, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Board has determined that further development is needed due to the inadequate November 2014 examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder has been found to result in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations related to his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder. The Veteran is given one last opportunity to provide information and attend a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a combined-effects opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variably diagnosed as PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression. The case is remanded to consider the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided that the August 2017 private DBQ for mental disorders was potentially fraudulent and therefore not considered. The case is being remanded to provide a rationale for this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, nerve disorder, PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to further development of evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and gout due to incomplete information provided by the VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an opinion addressing whether the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms during service represented an aggravation of his pre-existing disorder, or if they were due to a separate disorder that first began in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression due to new evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for mood disorder with depression and insomnia disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 4, 2009 for mood disorder with depression and an effective date earlier than June 25, 2010 for the healed surgical neck fracture of the left humerus were both denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for the healed surgical neck fracture of the left humerus was remanded.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 70 percent rating to a 50 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder was proper based on improvement in symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The Veteran is not competent to provide medical testimony regarding the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea and depressive disorder have been granted effective as of February 10, 2014. The initial ratings for both conditions are set at 50%.