Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran is seeking service connection for anxiety and depression, which he claims had onset in service. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records and schedule the Veteran for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, with depression being found more likely related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified depressive disorder since August 31, 2016 was granted. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is also granted.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no current disability or causal link to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders including arthritis and residuals of right knee replacement, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's depression disorder is currently rated at 100 percent disabling effective December 23, 2013. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 50 percent.,For the entire appeal period prior to March 2, 2006, the Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety and depression, requires additional development due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of low back disability, and determined that chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, and a chronic lung disease are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not service-connected, and the Board finds that his TBI residuals do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for depression not otherwise specified and hip complaints/degenerative disc disease of the hips. The decision is mixed as it grants some issues but denies others.

The Veteran's depression is currently rated at 70 percent since March 28, 2017. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current psychiatric disability related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 40 percent disabling since December 2, 2013. The RO considered the pre-aggravation baseline level of severity and deducted it from the current level to determine a net rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen the endometriosis was also denied.