Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to military service. The Veteran's personnel records show he served in Iraq from April 2002 to September 2002.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as anxiety, depression, mood disorder, unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, and unspecified bipolar-related disorder is granted. Service connection for substance abuse disorders (including methamphetamine and opioid use disorders and substance induced psychosis) secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities is also granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression with anxiety and memory loss, should be remanded due to failure to report for a VA examination. The Veteran must be scheduled for a new medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as anxiety and depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, finding no competent evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have PTSD, depressive disorder, or an anxiety disorder. The Board also found no evidence of polysubstance dependency being secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression and primary insomnia are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions, as well as for obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records that may be relevant to assessing his entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to February 12, 2018. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as none of the submitted records provided a nexus between the Veteran's major depressive disorder and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression, has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence received since the June 2007 rating decision is material and grants this aspect of the appeal. However, the claims for bilateral foot disability (claimed as frostbite) and right great toe disability are remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and remanded his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and depression, is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new etiological opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of depression has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back pain, scoliosis, cervical spine arthritis, left arm lateral epicondylitis, knee bursitis, leg and hip conditions, restless leg syndrome, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, dizziness, foot arthritis, bunions, osteoporosis, hypertension, heart condition, insomnia, sleep apnea, myofascial pain syndrome, eye pain/dryness, gynecological condition (uterine cysts/fibroids), breast cancer, depression secondary to breast cancer, jaw/teeth pain, and PTSD. The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of a verified in-service stressor for PTSD, but has found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of depressive disorder and anxiety are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to new evidence indicating a worsening of the Veteran's left knee and back disorders. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the issue of whether his current psychiatric disabilities are related to service remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and further medical clarification of his lumbar spine disability.