Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to an inconsistency in a previous medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's vertigo and hypogonadism were not found to be related to service or his service-connected conditions. The seizure disorder was granted as secondary to hepatitis C, while the acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and insomnia) was also linked to the seizure disorder and hepatitis C.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and a higher rating for hepatitis C was not warranted due to lack of incapacitating episodes.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for major depressive disorder with PTSD and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression are granted as service connected, with the claim being reopened due to new evidence provided since the final December 2013 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, sleep apnea, and a psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inextricably intertwined issues. Specifically, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, erectile dysfunction, skin cancer of the face, arms, and back, and depression and anxiety are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder, is granted as service connected. The onset of these conditions is attributed to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for cervical spine condition, lower back condition, pes planus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all denied due to lack of current diagnoses or causal relationship to service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorder) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied as there is no credible evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection for skin cancer was also denied due to the lack of documented instances of skin cancer during the pendency of this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for situational maladjustment with depression and anxiety is reopened, but further development is needed to address the merits of his claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder prior to February 17, 2011, is granted a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability was initially rated at 50% prior to August 7, 2013. Since then, the rating has been increased to 70%. The effective date for this increase is August 7, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and failure to obtain all relevant treatment records from the Veteran's Vet Center.

The Veteran's CFS is granted as secondary to his service-connected lung disorder. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records and conduct a VA examination.