Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress has been granted. The decision is based on the Veteran's combat experience during service in Vietnam, which established an in-service stressor related to his psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for PTSD and MDD. The Veteran's stressors are conceded, but a VA psychiatrist or psychologist is needed to confirm that the claimed stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD. Additionally, an addendum opinion is required to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing or unlocated in-service medical records, and for TDIU as it is dependent on the outcome of the service connection claims. The Veteran's heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), respiratory condition, acid reflux, migraines, and hypertension are at issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include various psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain, joint pain, and GERD.

The Board has remanded several accrued benefits claims due to a need for evidence showing that the appellant, who is an adult daughter of the Veteran, was his dependent child at the time of his death. The appeals will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is secondary to his service-connected conditions. The issues of increased rating for posttraumatic headaches prior to December 11, 2017, and entitlement to TBI compensation are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) and a heart disability as currently diagnosed, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected mental health disability.

The Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea syndrome is found to be related to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and the appeal for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD with a major depressive disorder (MDD), is granted. The Veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent and his TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder or aggravated by it.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's mental health diagnoses and their relation to service. The Veteran will need a new examination to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for their psychiatric disability is remanded. The appeal regarding a higher rating for hypothyroidism is also remanded due to missing VA treatment records and the need for clarification of thyroid nodules.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and right hip strain were granted effective September 30, 2013. The PTSD was rated at 70 percent, while the right hip strain was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and a higher rating is denied. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than chronic adjustment disorder, to include major depressive disorder and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hemorrhoids is granted. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for depression and a generalized anxiety disorder is dismissed. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting information about the Veteran's receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits for his psychiatric disability. The SSA records need to be obtained and reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete search of unit records for the Veteran's in-service stressor. The Veteran served with the 598th Transportation Company from January 1967 to August 1968, and a comprehensive search is needed for the months of January 1968 through August 1968.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current diagnoses were not related to his military service and there was no evidence of any psychiatric symptoms or pathology within the first post-service year.