Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reported symptoms and history.

The Board denied service connection for depression and anxiety with anger issues, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are less likely related to his military service. Service connection for hepatitis B was also denied due to lack of a current medical diagnosis.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are at least as likely as not related to a credible in-service stressor. The other issues on appeal remain pending and require additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of available service records. The Veteran's statements concerning his disability need to be considered in the new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA medical opinion to address all acquired psychiatric disorders diagnosed since September 2016, including depressive disorder, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, mood disorder, and major depression. The examiner is asked to determine if any of these diagnoses are related to exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune or caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is granted as her MDD is related to her active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD, PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the entire appeal period prior to December 19, 2013. As a result, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, will be evaluated based on available evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and unverified in-service stressor. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since August 28, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can secure and maintain such employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and headaches. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection, but his personality disorder and other psychiatric disorders are denied. The ratings for his peripheral neuropathy remain at 20 percent, and the appeal for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and type 2 diabetes, and the Board has granted this claim.,The Veteran's headaches are also secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and hypertension. The Board has granted this claim as well.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his preexisting mental health issues were not aggravated by his brief period of active duty training and that he did not have a current disability resulting from such service.

The Veteran's appeal for reducing his PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder rating from 70% to 50% effective April 1, 2017 has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), fibromyalgia (neck, back, buttocks pain), and herpes. The Veteran is entitled to a VA addendum opinion on each issue.