Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be remanded again so that VA may make additional efforts to develop evidence pertinent to his claim.

The Veteran's claim for depression has been reopened and granted.,Claims for bilateral hand condition, lower back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, dissociative disorder) have been remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus, thus granting service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The petition to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right lower extremity disorder, and left lower extremity disorder is granted.,The petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for anxious depressive disorder is granted.

An increase rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted, effective February 4, 2017. The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment.

The Board denied service connection for seizure disorder and psychiatric disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and entitlement to TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding his diagnoses and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right eye condition and hypertension were denied as they are not related to service. The Board found no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during service for the right eye condition, and there is no indication that the current wrist, back, ankle, and psychiatric conditions are related to military service.,The Veteran's bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, and right ankle disabilities were remanded as VA needs to determine if they are related to her military duties. The acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and mental disorder for treatment purposes were also remanded due to the need to corroborate the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's hypertension, associated with PTSD with depression and anxiety, was not rated higher than noncompensable (zero percent) due to the lack of diastolic or systolic pressure elevation requiring continuous medication. The Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude gainful employment.

The claim for diabetes mellitus type II has been reopened and granted.,The claim for coronary artery disease has been reopened and granted.,The claim for hemorrhage from brain vessels (stroke) has been reopened and denied.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and denied.,The claim for erectile dysfunction has been reopened and denied.,The claim for bilateral arthritis of the feet has been reopened and denied.,The claim for bilateral arthritis of the hands has been reopened and denied.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and acquired psychiatric disorder (including other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder) are granted service connection as due to a qualifying chronic disability. The grant of presumptive service connection for the gastrointestinal condition renders moot any theories of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeals for arthritis of all other joints, allergies to sulfa and medications, respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma and bronchitis), skin disorder, hemorrhoids, heart disorder, prostate disorder, and disability claimed as muscle aches, pains and spasms have been dismissed. The Veteran has service connection granted for depressive disorder and IBS/GERD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a secondary causation opinion addressing possible aggravation of anxiety and reactive depression by the service-connected seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and alcohol abuse disorder was denied because the new evidence submitted did not substantiate his in-service stressor claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 31, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence demonstrates that she is precluded from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment due to her PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, basal cell skin cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's service connection and increased rating claims due to a withdrawal request in May 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.