Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of a claimed in-service stressor, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and medical opinions. The issues include psychiatric conditions, gastroenteritis, hepatitis B and C, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and a right wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and a sleep disorder (claimed as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder) are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. A new medical opinion is needed to determine the etiology of his mental health conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and need for additional development. The main issues are related to Parkinson's disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, kidney stones, and liver disorders, all of which may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to service-connected disabilities, and the VA-prescribed medications did not result in an additional disability or death. The Board found that the medications prescribed for his service-connected conditions were not causally related to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions had their onset during his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of sufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression. The VA examiner is requested to provide an updated opinion on whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missed VA examinations and lack of proper notification. The Veteran will need to undergo a new VA psychiatric examination.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD and MDD is dismissed as the claim has been granted.,The appeal for service connection for a left eye disorder, other than central retinal artery occlusion, is dismissed as the claim has been granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, and PTSD, is granted service connection. Service connection for left foot numbness is denied.

The Veteran's MDD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective August 25, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to provide these necessary opinions.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders, to include on an extraschedular basis, are granted at a 50 percent rating prior to July 25, 2012. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that an addendum medical opinion is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's symptoms of nervousness, night sweats, and headaches are signs or symptoms of an 'undiagnosed illness' as defined by 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 or related to an unexplained multi-chronic illness.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for major depression, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is not rated higher than 70 percent, and his TDIU claim was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service. The Board concluded that the Veteran's mental health symptoms were more likely related to family and work stressors than to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for major depression and anxiety disorder, unspecified (claimed as stress disorder) and alcohol abuse due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The remand requires additional examination and opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to confirm his service in Vietnam and to obtain opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, along with panic and agoraphobia disorders, is rated at 100 percent effective June 15, 2018. The TDIU claim was granted for the entire appeal period.