Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and recurrent major depression, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Depression due to a lack of current diagnoses and inconsistent in-service stressor accounts with military records.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, insomnia disorder, and substance abuse disorder. The decision also grants service connection for a headache disorder as a residual of TBI and impaired balance/dizziness as a residual of TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new psychiatric examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner must determine if any of these conditions are related to service, particularly an in-service personal assault.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include major depressive disorder, and for hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with anxiety and depression), sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial rating for anxiety and depression disorder was denied, as the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain an updated work and education history and conduct a TDIU evaluation.

The Board has determined that an addendum opinion is necessary to address the etiology of the Veteran's major depressive disorder, as it may be related to service. The claims for PTSD and anxiety are also remanded due to their inextricably intertwined nature with the major depressive disorder claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of opinions regarding service connection, rating, and TDIU. The Veteran's spine disability may be secondary to his left ankle disability, but this needs to be clarified. His major depressive disorder requires a new examination to determine if he has suicidal ideation and its impact on work capacity. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating and service connection issues.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The Board has determined that a rating of 70 percent is warranted for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and alcohol abuse. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorders were aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA needs to obtain updated treatment records and conduct a new examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for migraine headaches, increased rating for lumbosacral strain, and increased rating for obsessive compulsive disorder with major depressive disorder and panic disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and other issues due to incomplete development. The Veteran will need to provide additional VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and undergo examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service or any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence showing additional periods of service on the USS Aeolus during which the Veteran's claimed stressor may have occurred. The Veteran also has been diagnosed with depressive disorder and severe recurrent major depressive disorder, and chronic pain from his service-connected bilateral ankle disability affects his life.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 29, 2011 for service connection of moderate chronic lumbosacral strain and bipolar disorder are denied. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the VA needs to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected conditions and if it was incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and memory loss, including an unspecified depressive disorder, are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.