Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claim for depression was granted as the evidence supports that his depression began during his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, is causally related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the claim for a higher rating for depressive disorder starting January 31, 2018.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as depression or a dysthymic disorder, which was already service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was manifested by not more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board denied the claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and psychiatric disability due to lack of a VA examination addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD. Additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for major depressive disorder and has determined that his diabetes mellitus disability aggravates his current depression. The decision also grants a rating for his diabetes mellitus disability.

The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (excluding PTSD) is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if service connection can be granted due to a current diagnosis of depressive disorder NOS related to tension headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence showing that any acquired psychiatric disorder pre-existed service or was aggravated by service. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination to determine if their current conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD and depressive disorder. Additional development is needed, including verifying in-service stressors and assessing the relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew from the appeal all claims related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD with major depressive disorder and a cognitive disorder, dry eye syndrome with eyelid cysts, and TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, right foot contusion with metatarsalgia, cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, residuals of a fractured right index finger, and residuals of a fractured right little finger. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records, scheduling examinations to assess the severity of these disabilities, and issuing an SSOC regarding the April 2016 denial of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The appeal for service connection of anxiety, depression, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it is due to his own willful misconduct during service, specifically his unauthorized absences and other disciplinary issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for recurrent microscopic hematuria, urethritis, left knee ACL ligament tear and arthritis, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability (including major depressive disorder and PTSD) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection are not supported by current medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development. The Board finds that new evidence has been submitted which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.