Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The appeal is not about service connection in this context.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure and causation of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, specifically mantle cell lymphoma, depression, insomnia, and memory loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis conforming to DSM-5 criteria or a link between his symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder due to additional records being added to the claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete examination and treatment records, as well as the need to address whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks and Major Depressive Disorder as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and an updated VA psychiatric examination is needed. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, must be reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for depression, finding no current impairment of the condition and that it is not related to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and the relationship between his current psychiatric conditions and service. The Veteran will need to provide further details about his in-service events, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's personality disorder is not a disability for VA compensation purposes, and the Board has remanded to determine if his unspecified depressive disorder had its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of the record, particularly regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and granted a 70 percent evaluation for anxiety disorder, including panic disorder and other specified depressive disorder, effective April 11, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including verifying an alleged helicopter crash incident and obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease was denied. The rating for migraines in excess of 50% and the rating for depressive disorder and chronic sleep impairment in excess of 70% were also denied.,Service connection for migraines, depressive disorder and chronic sleep impairment, and TDIU were granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination in connection with the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran asserts that his PTSD, MDD, GAD, and somatoform disorder are related to missing a SOS signal during service. The Board finds a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of her CUE claim.

The Veteran's additional disabilities are being remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if they were caused by the November 2011 VA colonoscopy with perforated bowel and subsequent multiple infections, including carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches secondary to service-connected tinnitus and for unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits as the Veteran's service-connected major depression was not established until July 3, 2007.