Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neuropathy of the bilateral feet and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) due to incomplete opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD due to a lack of review of relevant Service Personnel Records (SPRs) and Service Treatment Records (STRs). The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his in-service court martial, which he contends caused MST.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and TDIU, finding that there was no current disability meeting the criteria for service connection due to his service-connected bilateral elbow disabilities. The Board also found that he did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, due to a lack of evidence showing that he attended his scheduled VA examination. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to attend a psychiatric examination by an appropriate examiner before the claim is adjudicated on its merits.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding no diagnosed psychiatric disability at the time of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder is being remanded for further evaluation and a hearing. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran was granted TDIU prior to September 16, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, he is not entitled to TDIU on or after that date as his combined evaluation has reached 100 percent and there are no other service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or higher.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure is denied as there is no evidence of current respiratory disability.,Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss, with the condition being presumed under the provisions of the PACT Act (Patient Care and Treatment Act).,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder) are remanded as they may be related to service. The claim for alcohol dependence secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.,Service connection is remanded for rheumatoid arthritis, with the issue being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding its onset during active duty or post-service.,The Veteran's right shoulder disorder claim is remanded as it may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its decision, requiring further development and an opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional stressor development and to arrange a VA examination. The Veteran's service personnel records show he served as a Russian linguist aboard multiple flights around the territory of the Soviet Union, which may be relevant to his claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination due to issues with verifying a claimed stressor and applying the correct legal standard for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various conditions are remanded due to the need for a medical opinion addressing whether these conditions resulted from events not reasonably foreseeable as a result of VA treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed neck and back disorders as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ear hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including a depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder, did not begin during her active military service. The evidence shows that she had pre-existing conditions prior to enlistment, and her current symptoms are considered to be part of her natural progression.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation for his service-connected major depressive disorder is remanded due to a procedural defect and lack of contemporaneous evidence. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for his right hip disability rating. The claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disability, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, and acid reflux have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is denied as there was no prior communication indicating intent to file a claim before September 11, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a spine condition manifesting in back pain, including fibromyalgia and degenerative arthritis, paralysis of the sciatic nerve of both lower extremities, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The remaining issues have been denied due to insufficient evidence or lack of nexus between service and current conditions.