Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence received and outstanding medical records that need to be obtained. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines was denied, and his TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Depression should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD and its relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, left foot disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's initial ratings for restless leg syndrome of the right and left lower extremities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's initial ratings for ankle bursitis, knee chondromalacia, and anemia have also been remanded due to lack of recent clinical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The sinus condition, lung condition (to include COPD), hypertension, residuals of cold weather injury (to include arthritis), and psychiatric disorder (to include depression) issues are remanded for further development.,Additional medical records must be obtained to determine the nature and cause of any current sinus condition, lung condition (to include COPD), hypertension, residuals of cold weather injury (to include arthritis), and psychiatric disorder (to include depression).

A 70 percent rating for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is granted from September 30, 2015 to October 28, 2016.,The claim of service connection for a low back disorder is reopened due to new evidence provided by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including fear of hostile military or terrorist activities while deployed in Somalia. Therefore, service connection is granted. The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded and his claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he already has a 100% disability rating for his major depressive disorder and hepatitis C with liver fibrosis, effective March 25, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and he is granted a total disability rating based upon unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision and new evidence suggesting a possible worsening of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations conducted over five years ago. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are causing total social and occupational impairment, and moderately severe or severe impairment in his heels.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims. However, the issue of whether these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection as his symptoms are not related to his military service.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, based on the receipt of new and material evidence, is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, substance abuse disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service did not qualify him for higher Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits due to his discharge from active duty not being due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressful experiences. The Veteran will need to provide additional documentation from the Army and SSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is related to his service-connected shoulder injuries and events during active duty. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches (claimed as migraine) is denied, and her claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for DIC and Chapter 35 DEA benefits, finding no legal entitlement to such earlier dates.