Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is found to be related to his service. The Board granted the claim as the doubt in favor of the Veteran was resolved.

The Veteran's psychiatric claim, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and major depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder have been granted a 70 percent disability rating prior to April 23, 2018, and a 100 percent disability rating effective from that date.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, but not total. A TDIU is also granted due to the Veteran's inability to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen service connection for anxiety and depression, but denied service connection for PTSD. The case is remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol abuse and depression. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and review of records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including a mood disorder. The issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for gingivitis and a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction are dismissed. The appeal for TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, as it is unclear whether the appellant's current diagnoses of sinus disability, facial swelling due to a sinus condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and schizophrenia, is denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's migraines, as the previous opinions were inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.,The Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with depression is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent since April 14, 2017. The symptoms included nightmares, intrusive thoughts and memories, emotional numbing, sleep impairment, hypervigilance, anger, substance abuse, depressed mood, anxiety, flattened affect, disturbances in motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or work like settings, and suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are granted service connection, but his cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar spine disability are denied. The left ankle disability is rated at the maximum allowed (40%), and a compensable evaluation for the residual scar is also denied.

The Veteran's back disability, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress features, and migraine headaches are all found to be aggravated or caused by his service-connected bilateral pes planus and ankle strain.,Service connection is granted for these conditions as secondary to the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's MDD is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to December 9, 2016. The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is granted at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for clarification of diagnoses, particularly regarding PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate depression in service, which may be related to his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not shown to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.