Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, is related to his combat service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and/or other mental illness due to his military service, as the previous examinations are inadequate.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in May 2018.

The appeal on the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for gout is dismissed. The claims for generalized arthritis, bilateral eye disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his military service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder claims, including a lack of VA examination and treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for VA to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other conditions like anxiety disorder, depression, and sleep disturbances, are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a comprehensive examination.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for disability ratings have been dismissed as free-standing claims are not allowed.

Your claim for PTSD has been dismissed as the condition was already granted in service connection under a different name (Adjustment Disorder).

The Veteran's anxiety and depression are service-connected as aggravated by his service-connected eczematous dermatitis/psoriasis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is found to be of sufficient severity to preclude her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU effective December 6, 2006. The case is remanded for an examination to determine the current severity of her PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left leg disability was dismissed. The Veteran's left heel spur and unspecified depressive disorder were granted service connection.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted a 100 percent rating, and service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal for TDIU is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not higher than what is warranted based on the evidence of record. The symptoms described do not meet or more closely approximate the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected recurrent pyloric channel ulcer with gastro-duodenitis, postoperative vagotomy. The issue of service connection for IBS has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing it prior to a decision. The rating for the recurrent pyloric channel ulcer with gastro-duodenitis remains at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and depression due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide or authorize release of private records related to his employment at the Homeland Security Agency, and he will be scheduled for VA examinations by an orthopedic specialist and a mental health examiner.

The Board granted a 100% rating for major depressive disorder with psychotic features, previously rated as PTSD, effective from June 5, 2017. The earlier effective date of February 1, 2010, was also granted.