Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including asthma, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The issues are being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, categorized as generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder, is granted due to the evidence showing a current diagnosis related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and possible new examination. The AOJ will consider whether a higher rating is warranted based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and stressor verification development related to PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are being considered.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor related to the Veteran's claimed assault and murder. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD due to lack of corroborating documentation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis and her acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sinusitis, PTSD, and depression for further examination and medical opinions due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding diagnoses and potential service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed, with a focus on whether any current disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but the case is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and need for a comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for a thyroid disability resulting in excessive weight gain, which is being remanded. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim cannot be decided without resolving this issue.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea. The Veteran's depression claim for secondary to his lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee condition requires additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychological disorders, specifically PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain in-patient hospital records from Ramstein Air Force Base during the Veteran’s service and copies of VA treatment records for the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule necessary VA examinations as per a previous Board remand. The goal of these exams is to assess the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 20, 2012 for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder. The issues of initial ratings greater than 10 percent for left and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and authorizations from private facilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right leg sciatica, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for sinusitis and depression. The denial of sinusitis is based on a lack of evidence showing chronicity after service, while the denial of depression is due to insufficient evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including cyclothymic disorder, depression, psychosis, anxiety disorder, and dysthymic disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including polysubstance abuse. A new VA examination is needed to address these deficiencies.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety disorder and PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as their symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70 or 100 percent rating. The effective date of the increased rating from 50 percent to 70 percent is set at March 5, 2016.