Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including a need for additional VA examinations and obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include Major Depressive Disorder. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his anxiety disorder with depression and restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss effective from June 18, 2016.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at a 70 percent disability rating for the period prior to March 25, 2015. The benefit sought on appeal is granted.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the left upper extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the right upper extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the left lower extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the right lower extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a low back disability began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a bilateral eye disability began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that Crohn’s Disease began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Entitlement to service connection for a stroke is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability with a heart attack is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and lack of discussion on the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic sinus disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting medical opinions.,For asthma, a new VA examination is needed to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of PTSD, MDD, and OCD, as well as his claim for TDIU are being remanded due to procedural errors in the initial rating decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral dequervain’s tenosynovitis and has also granted service connection for this condition. However, it denied service connection for depression and anxiety as there was no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a lacerated right inner bicep with nerve damage and scar is denied due to the period of other than honorable discharge. The Board has remanded claims for psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left elbow condition, and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 29, 2014 did not preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience otherwise qualify him.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's major depressive disorder, to include schizophrenia, prior to July 18, 2017, and from July 18, 2017 to August 9, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD, alcohol dependence, and unspecified depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right inguinal hernia and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, prostate disorder (including residuals of prostate cancer and residuals of prostate surgery), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder) due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service connection for LLE radiculopathy was granted secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The effective date of this grant is set at May 18, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder, are being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as a gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as ulcers), were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or causal relationships to service.