Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's depressive disorder is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of in-service stressors and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, and anxiety will be reviewed again with additional information and medical evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether the Veteran's current mental health condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's current mental disorder and its relationship to service-connected patellaofemoral pain syndrome and/or medication.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder with depression was rated at 30 percent prior to October 5, 2018, and at 50 percent since then.,The rating of 30 percent is maintained for the period prior to October 5, 2018, while a higher rating of 50 percent is denied since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with TBI are granted at a maximum schedular rating of 70 percent, effective May 25, 2014. The appeal is REMANDED for further action on other issues.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression due to new evidence. However, it is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a mental health disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied claims for left wrist condition, right wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition. The claim for a left knee condition is also denied. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, as well as whether a service-connected disability caused or aggravated his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's ringing in his ears since service is related to noise exposure. Service connection for depression was denied as there is no evidence linking current symptoms to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of rubella, bilateral hearing loss, anxiety and depression (psychiatric conditions), and vision conditions. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and address the psychiatric condition claim.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of his delimiting date was granted because he had a mental disability (PTSD and depression) that prevented him from pursuing education until he successfully completed a treatment program in November 2013, which is within one year of the end of his eligibility period.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The cervical spine disability is not rated higher than 20 percent, the left knee disability remains at 10 percent, and hypertension is also rated at 10 percent. GERD receives a 10 percent rating. TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a DRO hearing and an examination, as well as additional medical records being added to the file.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, finding that the Veteran's injuries were caused by his own willful misconduct.

The Board has expanded the service connection claim to include an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a mood disorder and depression. The case is being remanded due to potential outstanding STRs and military personnel records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorders pre-existed her service or were aggravated by it. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, MDD and GAD.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other conditions like Major Depression, Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, are granted as service-connected. Service connection for tachycardia (heart palpitations) is denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, Type II, diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, kidney problems, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and major depression and mood disorder have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,There are no presumptive service connection provisions applicable to any of the Veteran's claims.