Depression Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include polysubstance dependence with mood disorder (claimed major depressive disorder), and denied the claim due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and MDD. The case needs further development including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder as there was no credible evidence supporting the occurrence of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), a lumbar spine disability, and a left lower extremity neurological disability. Service connection for headaches is also granted. However, the claim of service connection for a gallbladder disability remains denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence showing that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death. The Veteran's cause of death was listed as massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal and gastric varices, and hepatitic C cirrhosis with portal hypertension.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for his 100 percent evaluation for major depressive disorder and dysthymia, as well as basic eligibility to Dependent's Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The Board has determined that these issues are inextricably intertwined and must be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder was reopened due to new evidence, and the Board has now granted this claim.

Service connection is granted for depression, but the claim for narcolepsy remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a rating greater than 30% for depressive disorder and for effective dates of TDIU and Chapter 35 benefits. The Veteran's medical records, including recent ones, need to be obtained and reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as there is no evidence of record showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's claims to reopen his previous claims for left and right knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, a right leg disorder other than a right knee disorder, a right ankle disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and requests another VA examination for a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain, right and left knee conditions, a neck condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder as it was incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his preexisting psychiatric condition did not increase in severity during or as a result of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment, as the symptoms were controlled by medication.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, depression, and hypertension are granted. Claims for right leg disability (claimed as a right shin injury), hernia of the upper torso, kidney disease, cyst of the left armpit, and diabetes mellitus remain denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The back and knee disabilities are remanded for additional examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder prior to June 20, 2018 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,From June 20, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder did not result in total occupational and social impairment.