Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are granted as service-connected, with the diagnosis based on in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain her complete service personnel records and service treatment records, as well as military dependent treatment records from multiple military facilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of healed injury right wrist is denied as the evidence does not show ankylosis or more than limitation of motion.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied because there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support their onset during service.

The Board has vacated its May 7, 2019 decision and remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD) and sleep apnea. The issues are being remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it is clear and unmistakable that she had a pre-existing mental disorder at the time of entrance into active duty service or if her current condition is at least as likely as not due to or aggravated by an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been granted a 100 percent disability rating, indicating total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded to obtain verification of stressors, conduct a VA examination, and determine if any other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence and need for clarification on service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability and other service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 4, 2008. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psychiatric disorder, kidneys with cysts, and neurological disease have been granted. The case is remanded to obtain clarification on the diagnoses related to the Veteran’s kidneys and to clarify whether he has Parkinson’s disease.

The Veteran's appeal seeking a higher rating for major depressive disorder is dismissed. The claim for service connection of SI joint dysfunction disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) and secondary service connection for substance abuse disorder (opioid use disorder), both related to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of heat stroke, including cognitive impairment and depression, needs further development due to missing medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to her service-connected persistent depressive disorder and asthma. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused and/or aggravated by her service-connected psychiatric disability and asthma.

The Board's decision is vacated due to the submission of a detailed brief by the Veteran's representative after the March 2019 decision, which was not considered. The appeal is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and generalized anxiety disorder, are secondary to his service-connected frostbite injuries of his bilateral hands. The decision grants this claim.

The Veteran's effective date for the 70% rating for major depressive disorder and the 40% rating for gout of bilateral knees, ankles, feet/toes is set to December 27, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and PTSD. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating and earlier effective date for service-connected depressive disorder is denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, and there was no formal or informal claim prior to March 26, 2012.