Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting findings regarding PTSD and a current diagnosis of unspecified depressive disorder. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD, and whether any diagnosed psychiatric condition (other than PTSD) is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional examinations. The issues include bilateral foot disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), and a disability manifested as head pain.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically a depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected Grave’s disease and headache disorder. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and cognitive disorder not otherwise specified, was denied as it is not related to service.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent disabling for the entire period on appeal. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition due to service-connected Hepatitis C is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and bipolar disorder, first manifested during active duty service. The claim is granted, and an initial rating of 30 percent for bilateral collapsing pes planovalgus deformity prior to June 29, 2011 is also granted.

The Veteran's pancreatitis is now service-connected and rated at 100% effective October 22, 2007.,Service connection for depressive disorder with unspecified anxious distress has been granted.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claims for alcohol abuse, PTSD, and depressive disorder. The case will be remanded for further review of this new evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and headaches. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, drug dependency, and alcoholism, are related to in-service head trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to withdraw his claims for service connection for TMJ and vertigo. The Board also found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is service-connected, as are his acquired psychiatric disorder including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, finding that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental health disorder related to his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder rating has been restored to 50 percent effective from December 29, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and did not manifest PTSD during the period on appeal. The evidence shows that the Veteran suffers from major depressive disorder, which is already service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA and private evaluations, requiring a new examination to determine if the Veteran's depressive disorder is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and stomach ulcers.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, fatigue, bowel incontinence, bladder incontinence, headaches, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), and sleep disorder are related to her treatment at VA facilities. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of increased ratings and service connection. The Board will not continue to consider the initial rating claim until this additional evidence has been considered.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his thoracic spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.