Depression decisions — 2016

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent since January 22, 2009. The effective date for the award of TDIU is set to July 20, 2009.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his period of service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's mood disorder with anxiety and depression was initially rated at 10 percent prior to September 18, 2013. From September 18, 2013, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's initial claims for higher ratings for his knee disabilities were denied. However, he was granted temporary total evaluations due to right and left total knee replacements.,His claims of service connection for a left ankle disability and a right ankle disability have been reopened.

The Veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with recurrent epistaxis is found to be related to service, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, headaches, and sleep apnea have been denied as secondary to Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL).,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a mood disorder (claimed as depression) has also been denied as secondary to VHL.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and headaches were previously denied, but new evidence was submitted that raises the possibility of reopening these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression), erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and several types of neuropathy. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to outstanding private treatment records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and her major depressive disorder is not service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and scars (bilateral knee) are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder, did not meet the criteria for service connection as it preexisted his entrance into service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes bipolar disorder/depression and PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain Social Security Administration records that may contain relevant treatment information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiners concluded it is less likely as not that these conditions are related to his experiences during military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 14, 2012. Prior to that date, he was granted a TDIU effective March 1, 2014.,PTSD symptoms include depression, anxiety, hypervigilance, anger, intrusive memories, isolation, avoidance, flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, concentration problems, mild memory loss, passive suicidal ideation, near continuous depression, and impaired impulse control.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and is remanding the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a right ear hearing loss disability aggravated by active service, and his current left ear hearing loss is related to this aggravation. Service connection for depression was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with depression and anger, has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's depression was caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 21, 2015. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as irritability, anger, isolation, difficulty sleeping, and persistent thoughts about in-service events.