Depression decisions — 2019

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence and that his psychiatric condition was not proximately caused or aggravated by VA care.

The Board has granted service connection for Major depressive disorder (MDD) due to the Veteran's military service, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD to include depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability resulting from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, began during active service or is related to an incident of service. The examiner must also provide opinions on whether there is a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete information regarding stressor events. The Veteran's conditions are being evaluated based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete development of his Gulf War exposure history. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted. The Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes, but denies service connection on the merits due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between the disability and service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, with anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them for further development. The issues include service connection for psychiatric disorders (MDD, PTSD, and anxiety), a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected conditions. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to his major depressive disorder, medications for it, or his shoulder injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gout, kidney disease, depression, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder prior to December 13, 2017 was denied.,A 30 percent disability rating from December 13, 2017 was granted for the service-connected major depressive disorder associated with fibromyalgia.,The reduction of the combined 60 percent rating for various body parts affected by fibromyalgia to a single 40 percent rating effective July 1, 2014 was upheld.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression to include insomnia was reopened, and the claim was granted.,Service connection for PTSD and depression with insomnia was also granted. Additionally, eligibility for VA treatment under 38 U.S.C. 1702 was established due to a mental illness developed within two years of separation from service.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection for DDD (claimed as back pain) is denied.,The application to reopen the claim for service connection for Bell's palsy is granted. Service connection for a headache disorder secondary to service-connected hypertension and depressive disorder is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for back, neck, left hip, right hip, sleep disorder, and anxiety and depression disabilities as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the claim for an extraschedular rating due to incomplete development. The claim will be reconsidered after the necessary development is completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 30 percent rating prior to March 20, 2018 and a 50 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for chronic fatigue syndrome is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for depressive disorder with anxiety features and migraines, as well as TDIU are remanded.

The claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened, and the case of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (which includes PTSD) is remanded due to insufficient evidence to decide the case.