Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The case is remanded for further action on the initial rating for psychiatric disorder and service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and depression and anxiety, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since April 2010, and the Board found that his symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hiatal hernia, and seizure disorder have been granted. The Veteran's fibromyalgia, chronic URIs, OSA, and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent for the period from May 21, 2018. A TDIU is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder does not meet the criteria for PTSD due to unverified stressors and insufficient evidence linking his symptoms to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pancreatitis and an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, and depression, has been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for diverticulitis has been granted. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with psychosis, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether it is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, insomnia, migraine headaches, and depression based on new evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for sleep apnea secondary to major depressive disorder is granted. The claim for increased rating of lumbar disc degeneration and major depressive disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD and specified depressive disorder do not warrant separate ratings, as the symptoms overlap. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's aggravated anxiety disorder is caused by VA negligence in delaying the diagnosis of his prostate cancer, leading to worsening symptoms.

The Board dismissed the appeals for rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain and lumbar vertebral disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and unspecified depressive disorder prior to December 10, 2015.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, a lower extremity disorder (claimed as knee or leg condition), an acquired psychiatric condition (to include anxiety due to trauma and unspecified depressive disorder), and vision loss, have all been denied. The Board found that the preexisting conditions did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims, except for the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability which has been reopened.

The Veteran's claims for lethargy, CFS, acid reflux disease, and left hip strain are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to his Crohn’s disease.,Back disability, depression, and deterioration of the teeth remain in dispute and need further examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The evidence shows that his current psychiatric conditions are related to his in-service head injuries but not directly due to those injuries.