Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current depression is proximately due to her service-connected right knee disability and related eye condition, granting service connection for this acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supports a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and GAD. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible in-service stressor of witnessing an aircraft crash.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and personality disorder. The Veteran was not granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD have been rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, reflecting significant impairment in most areas of functioning.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss is dismissed. His petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted, and the claim is granted. The Veteran’s petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, but has remanded the issue of an initial disability rating for spinal stenosis with L1 compression fracture and low back strain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder due to inadequate rationale in the May 2015 VA examination, and a need for new medical records and an updated opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 2, 2008 for the grant of service connection for a hysterectomy was denied. The Board found that the February 2007 rating decision denying service connection for a hysterectomy was final due to lack of timely appeal and no new and material evidence received within one year. The claim for an effective date prior to June 2, 2008 for major depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder results in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% initial evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion and the need for additional records and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye blindness and Parkinson's disease, among other conditions. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for the remaining listed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all remaining issues.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current depressive disorder is not related to his military service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to failure to schedule VA examinations and unclear intent regarding withdrawal of appeal. The Veteran is advised to appear for scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with depression was denied as the evidence did not support a backdating of the award.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a blood disorder. The claim for reopening and granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date set at the date of receipt of the new evidence (June 2019). Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the veteran's current psychiatric condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional medical records. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is not currently service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain with osteoarthritic changes and left hip bursitis, both secondary to her psoriatic arthritis, are being remanded.,Her claim for a compensable disability rating for psoriatic arthritis is also being remanded.