Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder manifesting as depression and anxiety, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder fusion and right elbow arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and provide another opinion from a psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded several other issues for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's request for an extension of his delimiting date for educational assistance benefits was granted due to evidence showing he had a severe psychiatric disability (depression) that prevented him from pursuing education until November 2015.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The issue of asthma service connection is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining SSA records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Anxiety disorder, and Depressive disorder as there is no evidence of a diagnosis in accordance with DSM-5 or a causal link to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board has also remanded issues regarding a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee, right heel, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The VA must obtain addendum opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a scars evaluation. The AOJ must obtain additional evidence, conduct examinations, and ensure proper notice is provided to the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that his current diagnoses (PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder) are related to his military service, particularly his experiences during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. As a result, the Veteran's claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for GERD and for a higher disability rating for unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran is required to provide releases for relevant records of treatment from McAllen Medical Center and Dr. N.L., and to identify other care providers who may possess new or additional evidence pertinent to his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder).

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder were granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent prior to September 28, 2018. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding whether a higher rating was warranted.

The Veteran's claims for bowel disorder, radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve, lumbar IVDS, and PTSD with anxiety, adjustment disorder, and depression have all been denied.,The case is also remanded to address the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric condition, diagnosed as unspecified depression with anxious distress, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, but denied in excess of this rating. The case is remanded for further development regarding the right middle and inner ear issue.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The issue of TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression and GAD are remanded due to new evidence received since the last decision. The VA is required to obtain a medical opinion to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.