Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors and the need for a new VA examination using DSM-V criteria. The Veteran's claim is recharacterized as seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction have also been remanded. Additionally, the claim for tinnitus is being remanded, as well as the special monthly compensation based on loss of use.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder have been granted an effective date of May 17, 2010 for a 100 percent rating. The issue of a higher rating for the left ankle injury is remanded.

The appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to misdiagnosis of HIV is dismissed, and a 20 percent rating is granted for hepatitis B. Compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning March 21, 2013, is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and lack of examination. The Veteran must authorize a VA psychiatrist or psychologist to clarify his PTSD diagnosis, and he needs to be examined by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist to determine if his psychiatric disability is related to service. Additionally, the Veteran needs to be examined by an appropriate examiner to determine if his sleeping problems are related to service.

The claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of service connection for PTSD, anxiety and mood disorder, bipolar disorder, and depressive neurosis (major depressive disorder) remain pending. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for removed nerve tumor from knee, acquired psychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression, and memory loss due to lack of current disability evidence and failure to appear at a VA examination. The appeal was remanded multiple times but the Veteran did not cooperate with VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to lack of evidence showing wear and tear on his clothing. The case is remanded for further review regarding the bilateral knee braces.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected disability. The Board has remanded for further action on issues including service connection and rating for other conditions.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a rating of 30 percent prior to January 19, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The RO denied higher initial disability ratings for the condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's anxiety and/or depression may be related to in-service events, but a VA examination is needed to determine this.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, an eating disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder, is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, due to new evidence provided by the Veteran's mental health provider. The Board also found that there is at least equipoise of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are causally related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. The issues of increased ratings for left knee, right knee, right hip, and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood/major depression, which is found to be related to his service-connected muscle/joint pain/fatigue and vomiting disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examinations and failure to report. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, enlarged lymph node in the groin region, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral foot disorder, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including previously diagnosed conditions like depression and an adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is also on appeal.