Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions addressing his psychiatric and neurological conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, major depression, and a neurological disorder allegedly related to an in-service chemical exposure.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and a claim for an increased rating for bilateral foot metatarsalgia with left fibroma. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish the required link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The issues of increased evaluations, service connection, and TDIU are all related and require further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to pending claims related to other conditions. The appeal will be deferred until all other issues are resolved.

The appeal for service connection for Klippel-Feil syndrome and a hiatal hernia has been dismissed.,Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety).,Service connection was denied for chronic sleep disorder and chronic memory disorder.,Service connection was denied for residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right foot metatarsalgia, right foot hallux valgus, lumbosacral back strain, sesamoid fracture of the right great toe, and TDIU are all denied.

The Board has denied service connection for an arterial disorder in the neck, a left hand disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder). The issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right biceps tendon rupture, and hypertension, do not render him unemployable as he has worked part-time for many years.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for his PTSD with depression and bipolar disorder is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, headaches, depression, and penis disability (ED) due to inadequate examinations that did not consider lay evidence of symptoms from service. The Veteran's service records do not provide a clear picture of his pre-service health or any in-service injuries.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to April 17, 2019 and a separate rating of 20 percent for the tear of the meniscus from that date. The Veteran is also service-connected for major depressive disorder secondary to his right knee disability.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been remanded as additional development is necessary.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and hypertension have been granted service connection. The hypertension secondary to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's fungal infection of the bilateral feet is denied as there was no evidence of a skin or fungal infection during service. The psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is also denied due to lack of in-service stressors and current evidence not meeting criteria for diagnosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability may have contributed to his current MDD, and thus granted service connection for MDD. The issues of service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of August 13, 2014. The earlier claim for migraine headaches (secondary to Major depressive disorder) and the request for a prior effective date are also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and the case of additional left eye disability due to VA surgical removal of cataracts is remanded for further review.

An effective date of August 15, 2014, for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the wrists, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, effective from September 2016. The rating for low back disability and hypertension remains denied.