Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is related to his service in Vietnam, including witnessing death and serious injury of fellow service members. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues on appeal due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of median sternotomy, depression, left leg fracture, vertigo, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted on November 10, 2016. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is November 10, 2016 and denied earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for chronic sinusitis and a psychiatric disability was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression and anxiety, but denied the claim for increased disability ratings for his lumbar spine strain.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for residuals of a neck injury is denied as the evidence does not support an increased rating.,Service connection for hypertension remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for gastrointestinal disorder (including gastric ulcer, gastroenteritis, polyps, and colonic diverticulosis) remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder) remains remanded due to conflicting VA medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded to obtain additional information and records from the Veteran's previous employers, VA medical providers, and SSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, back condition, neck condition, and bilateral SNHL has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder. Tinnitus is also granted as service connected. The claims for back condition, neck condition, and bilateral SNHL are denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for HIV, CAD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service dental procedure and his current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a nervous condition, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further evaluation on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that further development is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be causally related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence did not show deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Depression, as well as TDIU due to the lack of evidence of current psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's claims were based on his exposure to battle conditions during the Gulf War.

The Board previously denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and the Court has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the likely etiology of the diagnosed condition. The remand requires consideration of lay statements and certain medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear nature and etiology of the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. An additional examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected condition and his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for unspecified depressive disorder were denied. The claim for PTSD was denied due to the absence of a confirmed diagnosis, while the depressive disorder claim had its assigned rating reduced.