Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's depressive disorder is not service connected, making it impossible to grant secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder due to lack of evidence linking the disorders to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain additional VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of fibromyalgia is being remanded due to the need for further development.,The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD), and sleep apnea are being remanded as new evidence has been received that may support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, other than a personality disorder and substance use disorder, that was incurred in or caused by active service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for a higher rating and earlier effective date for major depressive disorder prior to September 26, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and major depression, recurrent, with anxiety features due to a need for further development and re-adjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder and remanded the issues of increased evaluations for right and left knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression and PTSD, finding that there is no current evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims on appeal, including obtaining SSA and VAMC records, providing addendum opinions regarding HTN, and assessing the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The appeals are REMANDED.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), unspecified anxiety disorder, and mood disorder due to a general medical condition (chronic pain) are not secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for stroke residuals, as well as TDIU and SMC issues. The Veteran's current rating for his trauma-related disorder with persistent depressive disorder remains at 70 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service stressor that caused his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's depression is secondary to his service-connected physical disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents and further examination is needed.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's unspecified trauma related disorder, effective from the date of the January 2016 decision. The disability is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about the increase in dosage of Gabapentin and its potential impact on his left eye, lumbar spine, and psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension as secondary to PTSD due to inadequate examination findings and conflicting diagnoses.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to failure to appear for VA examinations. The issues include a rating increase for deviated nasal septum, service connection for psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, and eye conditions.