Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the severance of service connection for several conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's earlier period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional mental health records, including SSA records. The Veteran's claim for PTSD related to military sexual trauma (MST) is reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's stroke residuals are etiologically related to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder not otherwise specified, and anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service stressors or a current diagnosis of PTSD. The other diagnosed conditions were found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, chondromalacia patellar with arthritis, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 20, 2018.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, OSA, and erectile dysfunction are granted. The claim for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus is denied as it must be dismissed as a matter of law.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear cause of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and incomplete medical records. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his anxiety and depression are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, consideration of post-service treatment records, and obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his military service. The stressor of witnessing a friend commit suicide by jumping overboard during service is considered sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for Major Depressive Disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including failure to provide a VA examination and scheduling issues related to the Veteran's incarceration.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims include service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and a psychotic disorder not otherwise specified.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability rating and reopening of service connection claims, leaving no issues for the Board to review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine if any of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

Your appeal for a higher rating for your major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been dismissed as you have requested to withdraw the appeal.

Service connection granted for unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder (anxiety) as they are related to service. Service connection denied for PTSD.,Headaches secondary to irritable bowel syndrome were not found, and service connection is remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for chronic adjustment disorder, right brachial plexopathy, and left knee chondromalacia patella was denied. Service connection for a cervical spine condition was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and insomnia due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is currently rated at a 30 percent rating prior to August 21, 2015. The Board finds that the symptoms described meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder as there is no competent medical evidence that the condition originated during service.