Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no earlier effective date than August 8, 2014, the date her claim was received.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased initial rating for major depressive disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it is related to service. Service connection was denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a verified in-service stressor for PTSD and because the Veteran's diagnoses of adjustment disorder and depression need further clarification. The VA examiner is required to review the claims file, consider only the verified in-service stressors, and provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing substantially gainful employment prior to December 17, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected depression with anxiety disability, rated at 70 percent disabling, renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than June 17, 2011 for his service-connected depressive disorder as no appeals were filed.

The Veteran's claim for additional dependency benefits for his former spouse, C, from December 1997 to January 2004 was denied because he did not provide the required social security number within one year of being notified by VA.

The Veteran's TDIU appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD. The examiner is required to consider all available medical records, including VAMC treatment notes.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression and anxiety, is granted as attributable to his active service.,An effective date of October 30, 2011 for the Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent for the entire period under review, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and major depression associated with lumbosacral strain with right sacroiliac joint dysfunction and degenerative arthritis, status postoperative are granted. The Veteran's left hip condition and right hip joint condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated as 30 percent prior to December 27, 2016 and 70 percent thereafter. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded due to need for additional development and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 4, 2016.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran currently has a diagnosed psychiatric disability and whether it is related to service or any service-connected disability, specifically his orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right facial lipoma/cyst excision with residual scarring, depression of the skull, and TBI are granted. However, these cases are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD with associated depression is rated at 100 percent effective January 21, 2010. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is moot as the Veteran already receives a 100 percent rating for his PTSD.