Depression decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it, and no issues remain for review.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression has been reopened, with the evidence showing a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms, specifically PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, were found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to May 20, 2016. The rating assigned was 50 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, headaches, and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus, depression, and medication use. Service connection was denied for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, colon cancer, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, are related to his active duty service. However, a VA examination is needed to support this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, and May 24, 2007, is assigned as the new effective date. This is the earliest possible date for the grant of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder as the evidence did not show an in-service stressor event or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and TBI residuals, is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at a 50 percent since January 15, 2014. The symptoms are consistent with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to the need for additional evidence and a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis, left knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his service, specifically the in-service flashlight incident. A new VA examination and opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD, was dismissed. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities for the period beginning February 24, 2016, is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral chronic shin splints. The ratings for bilateral shin splints and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to a need for updated evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, finding that it is related to his military service. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and granted. The increased rating in excess of 30 percent for tension headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated and some issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disabilities, neurologic disabilities and tremors of the right upper extremity, neck disability, hypertension, and left ankle disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.