Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder was incurred during his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 70%, which meets the threshold for a TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, is proximately due to or the result of his right shoulder joint replacement. The Board finds that service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his condition was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a head injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records and the need to consider all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current mood disorder was caused by substance abuse and no other psychiatric disability has been present during the period of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety and depression) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and cannabis dependence (in remission) associated with lumbosacral strain, with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome was denied as there is no objective evidence that a formal or informal claim seeking this benefit was received by VA prior to November 29, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was rated at 50 percent, effective June 9, 2009. The Veteran's migraine headaches were initially rated at 10 percent, also effective June 9, 2009. TDIU was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and consideration of whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability, or depressive disorder due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a 30 percent rating for his vertigo as of November 27, 2006. The issues of increased initial ratings for TBI-related disabilities and entitlement to TDIU are also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD stressor was not verified, and his depression and mood disorder were not shown to be related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been rated at 10 percent since the initial rating decision. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's right foot disorder, including a chronic foot strain and plantar fasciitis, was incurred in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this finding.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating higher than the current 70 percent.