Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and a need for a new VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disabilities are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The decision notes that there is insufficient evidence to verify a specific in-service stressor related to the Veteran's claimed PTSD, and requests additional development such as obtaining performance evaluations and verifying the alleged stressor.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from November 22, 2013 to April 1, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. Prior to this date, the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's depression preexisted service and was aggravated by service. The Veteran needs a VA medical examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is related to an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of his misconduct and discharge. The VA will need to conduct further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing a medical examination to determine if the appellant was insane at that time.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying the Veteran's stressors and obtaining a medical opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD with major depression is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an updated examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder). The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression, is remanded due to the need for further examination and review of VA medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating for the entire appeal period, and he is granted TDIU effective December 1, 2017. Headaches, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development.,An earlier effective date is denied for all granted conditions.

The Veteran's left upper femur stress fracture is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating may be warranted based on additional functional loss due to pain and other symptoms. The claim for TDIU remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip strain is dismissed. The Board also finds that further development is necessary regarding the Veteran’s TBI and related ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete review of whether the Veteran's depression is related to service, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. An addendum opinion from a VA examiner is needed to clarify this issue.

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication due to new VA treatment records, and will consider service connection on its merits.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of August 9, 2019, for the award of a 70 percent disability rating for his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with persistent depressive disorder is granted. The appeal for a higher disability rating is denied.

The Board has granted a total disability rating of 100 percent for major depressive disorder from May 6, 2013 until May 23, 2018 due to severe symptoms causing total occupational and social impairment.