Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a specialized notice regarding the methods for substantiating a psychiatric claim related to a personal assault stressor and for obtaining a VA medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his headaches and psychiatric disorder, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating of other specified depressive disorder associated with tinnitus and a TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an issue related to the Veteran's status and a need for clarification from his representative.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent from May 20, 2009. He also received a grant of TDIU effective May 20, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reenter the VA vocational rehabilitation and employment program, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not worsen to the extent that she was precluded from performing work duties or that her previously rehabilitated occupation was unsuitable.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as there was no credible evidence of military sexual trauma (MST) or other in-service stressors that could support a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not shown to be related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic bronchitis due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence and have been denied. The issues of service connection for a right leg disability, PTSD, back disability, sleep apnea, and unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified schizophrenia remain in remand status due to insufficient medical opinions.

Service connection is granted for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome.,Service connection is also granted for major depressive disorder, but not as PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, depressive disorder, headaches, and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis. The appeal is remanded for a VA examination regarding the evaluation of the service-connected chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left shoulder tendonitis was denied, but her TDIU claim was granted. The Veteran is currently employed in part-time positions and at the state fair, but her service-connected disabilities have impacted her ability to perform work-related tasks.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's bilateral leg/knee disorder is not service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding no direct nexus to his time in service and no aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking the sleep apnea to his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for neck, eye (macular degeneration), respiratory, TBI residuals, and psychiatric disorders as the evidence did not show a nexus to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depressive disorder, and left lung cancer are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for an initial compensable rating for submandible residual scar and an effective date prior to May 14, 2014, for service connection for submandible residual scar are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including neuropsychiatric disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches is granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, headache disorder, sleep disorder/insomnia, unspecified neurological disorder, and psychiatric disorder including anxiety, depression, and nervousness due to incomplete records and need for further development.