Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for an increased disability rating for tension headaches. The case of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, amnesia, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD is remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic and psychiatric disabilities are found to be the likely cause of her diagnosed MDD, GAD, OSA, respiratory condition, GI disability, and breast cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left knee disorder and PTSD with other specified depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology or causation, and the rating assigned was appropriate given her current level of impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it was caused by an in-service event. The claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD with anxiety and depression is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection claims.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, major depressive disorder and pain disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), vertigo and dizziness, vision problems to include tunnel vision, erectile dysfunction, and hyperpituitarism with low testosterone are all being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for obtaining missing VA medical records and scheduling an additional examination due to possible worsening of symptoms. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions due to lack of current diagnosis and no causal link to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. The claim for PTSD is denied, and the claims for residuals of a left shoulder injury, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate examination and need for a new opinion.

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder was denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted. The claim for PTSD was reopened, but service connection was not granted due to lack of credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and coronary artery disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with major depression is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he was granted a TDIU from September 18, 2008 to October 27, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's current back condition is denied as not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, but has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and providing an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The claims are now pending before the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, both related to an in-service sexual assault, are granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder is remanded due to incomplete development.