Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent, effective September 1, 2017. Service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the May 2011 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error in failing to consider a broader claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including diagnoses of bipolar disorder, MDD with psychotic features, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims are now granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, an initial rating for right knee scars, and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depression results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has determined that the current rating of 50 percent is appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal for additional separate service connection for depression, anxiety, and PTSD was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The issues of entitlement to a low back disability and an increased rating for other trauma and stressor related disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Depression was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent effective April 11, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and unspecified trauma and stress-related disorder. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle sprain and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 6, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression). The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for testicular inflammation with pain (including epididymitis and varicocele), as there is no evidence of such condition in the records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and in need of further development. The claims include psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular conditions, low back condition, and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, should be remanded due to insufficient discussion of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of the claimed psychiatric disability, right wrist disability, left knee arthritis, and GERD with gastropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for skin disability and psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted since June 2015, as his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and sleep impairment, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects her symptoms and impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depression with pseudo-dementia and memory loss/cognitive impairment. The neck disability claim is also pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to military service.