Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 14, 2012 for right lower extremity radiculopathy and January 31, 2014 for a 50 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to the service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical segmental dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, skin disability, left hip disorder, and low back disability due to lack of a VA examination or medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The issue of establishing eligibility for VA treatment pursuant to the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand them due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's discharge was not due to willful and persistent misconduct, thus qualifying her as a 'veteran' for VA benefits.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is not the cause of his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, spider angiomas, or unspecified anxiety disorder with panic attacks, agoraphobia, and major depressive disorder.,A rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with panic attacks, agoraphobia, and major depressive disorder from February 16, 2017 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, due to potential issues with the validity of previous diagnoses and the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted service connection due to aggravation by his service-connected hypertension and CAD. The effective dates for tinnitus, hypertension, and CAD are all set at May 25, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression secondary to his right knee disability and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his right knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to provide additional private treatment records, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has decided that the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions had their onset during active duty service. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's exposure to hostile military activity is conceded. A new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected due to combat exposure during World War II.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service. Service connection was denied for short-term memory loss as it is considered part of his major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective April 13, 2017. The rating reflects significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for a respiratory condition and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, TBI, depression, alcohol dependence, and a skin disorder were denied. The effective dates for these decisions are August 13, 2013.