Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and adjustment disorder, is granted as service connected. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he has an associate degree and prior work experience. The Board finds that the Veteran is able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with its previous directives and a need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety, and depression due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's hearing loss and psychiatric conditions. The VA will obtain relevant medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with associated major depressive disorder was increased to 100 percent, effective May 20, 2014. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran has had total occupational and social impairment due to his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ADHD and persistent depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service for ADHD and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's respiratory condition (including pneumonia) is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's memory and comprehension difficulties, mental health issues, nightmares, vivid dreams, irritability, anger, anxiety, mood swings, low coping abilities, depression, conflicts, hypervigilance, time lapses, compulsive/impulsive habits, gastrointestinal symptoms, joint aches, muscle fatigue, gum condition, genital warts, and an ear, nose, and throat condition (including as due to an undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War service) are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified trauma and stress related disorder, is granted. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder, to include chronic depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for depression were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, and his claim was filed after February 21, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The right wrist osteoarthritis claim was denied as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating, while the PTSD with anxiety, panic attacks and depression claim resulted in an earlier effective date of November 29, 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation, as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether the Veteran's current anxiety and depression are related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, intermittent paroxysmal atrial flutter, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lung cancer with pneumonectomy and lobectomy.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder has been assigned a 50 percent rating and is now granted a 70 percent rating, with the issue of TDIU being remanded.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's depressive disorder was caused by his service-connected low back disability, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected hearing loss. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and vertigo or dizziness remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's mental health issues and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.