Depression decisions — 2017

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the evaluation of her acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder without psychotic features.

The Veteran's MDD was rated at 50 percent prior to September 10, 2010, and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU is included in the appeal.

The Board has granted a compensable rating of 10 percent for tinnitus and found service connection for depression secondary to the service-connected tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma with scar, asthma, sinusitis, and depression, to include dysthymia as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn by her representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically major depression disorder, as secondary to his service-connected eye disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for major depression, claimed as secondary to her service-connected hysterectomy, is pending.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with depression and also challenges the denial of service connection in two rating decisions. The Board has remanded the case to allow the Veteran a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's headaches, claimed as migraines, are rated at 30 percent effective October 7, 2015. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, including claimed depression, is rated at 10 percent from April 13, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for secondary service connection to his service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including recurrent major depression disorder and anxiety disorder, are found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his service.

The Veteran's major depression is currently rated at 70 percent, effective August 15, 2003. The rating for his polysubstance dependence was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to TDIU for further development due to other pending issues, including service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The combined disability rating may be affected by these changes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to her military sexual trauma during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is found to be related to service, but not caused by his service-connected disabilities. The examiner also attempted to differentiate which symptoms are distinctly attributable to the depressive disorder and which are distinctly attributable to the service-connected panic disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, previously claimed as chronic fatigue with mood changes, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of his mental health condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, including all issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and MDD are related to his in-service stressors, including witnessing a racially motivated assault on a fellow service member. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.