Depression decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of anxiety or depression due to his active duty service and that these conditions are not secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depression, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of service connection for broken teeth, whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Service connection is denied for low back disorder, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further medical examination and review of records to determine a proper rating for coronary artery disease (CAD). The Veteran's MDD and PTSD have been granted service connection with an initial rating of 100 percent from June 19, 2009, to August 31, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his fatal motor vehicle accident. Additional medical records and a VA psychologist or psychiatrist opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for esophageal stricture has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for service-connected esophageal stricture has also been denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted a 50% rating for the period prior to April 12, 2019. For the entire appeal period, his right and left knee osteoarthritis are each granted separate 10% ratings for instability. The Veteran’s left upper extremity radiculopathy is not rated higher than 30%. No rating in excess of 50% for depressive disorder or any other condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to additional development being required, including obtaining in-service mental health treatment records and updating VA treatment records. The Veteran's attorney pointed out that there are some mental health treatment records from March 1978 which need to be located.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and adjustment disorder not otherwise specified, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder), recurrent kidney stones, and low back disability are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD has been increased to a 100% rating effective May 9, 2018. The TDIU and nonservice-connected pension benefits have also been granted. However, the February 2019 rating decision has not been effectuated by the RO.

The Board denied service connection for depression and the earlier effective date claim for hypertension. The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a low back condition, a skin condition, and a psychiatric disorder to include depression due to failure to substantially comply with prior remand orders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his in-service trouble sleeping or major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pulmonary hypertension and acute respiratory failure, chronic renal insufficiency, scar residuals secondary to service-connected conditions, and depression. Additional development is needed as per previous remand directives.

The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, are found to be related to his service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion. The claims for service connection of gouty arthritis, erectile dysfunction, right leg condition, and right eye blindness are also remanded.