Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, emphysema, anxiety disorder, depression, back condition, jaw condition, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder are being remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, and major depressive disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder related to active service.

The Board has found a duty to assist error occurred and remands the case for further action, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his unspecified depressive disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease and/or unspecified depressive disorder, is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, PTSD, and depression. The Board found no causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's depressive disorder may be related to his service, but needs further evidence and a medical opinion to determine this. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and psychiatric disorders due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service in Kuwait.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and a major depressive disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent from June 22, 2004 to February 8, 2015. The effective date for this grant is June 22, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder are related to service. Updated VA treatment records need to be obtained, and a new opinion from a psychiatrist or psychologist is required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal by signing an Appeals Satisfaction Notice, indicating satisfaction with the most recent grant of benefits. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder is denied as the earliest date of receipt of a claim to reopen is August 20, 2015.

Service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected Parkinson's disease is granted. TDIU (on an extraschedular basis) is also granted. The Veteran’s increased disability ratings for Parkinson's disease are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation of PTSD, secondary depressive disorder, and service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.