Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of right rotator cuff tendonitis and arthritis was dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to service connection, including left shoulder disorder, bilateral hip disorders, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), hypertension, and a left hand rash.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious, schizotypal and paranoid features is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran has this condition and whether it was incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service-connected spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran needs another VA examination to address all diagnoses and determine their relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an examination for the claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The appellant served in the Army from April 26, 1977, to July 12, 1977, and claims he was subjected to racial prejudice during service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, anxiety condition, and depression, as well as residuals of a fractured jaw. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is granted, with the effective date set at February 22, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his active service.

The Board has dismissed all the issues related to service connection and effective dates due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinion and need for a new examination to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and depression. The claims are not currently decided on service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and migraine headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. Service connection for a left-hand disability is denied, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD with insomnia and depression should be rated at 30 percent prior to July 23, 2015, and 50 percent thereafter. The earlier effective date of January 7, 2013, for TDIU is also remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to new and material evidence having been presented.,An initial rating in excess of 100 percent for COPD is denied. An effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for COPD is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for depression with agoraphobia and panic disorder symptoms associated with COPD is being remanded. The earliest possible effective date is May 21, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 10, 2012 for the grant of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate remains remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and back disorder were evaluated. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating for any of these conditions and remanded several issues including service connection for a left knee disorder, individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU), and service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The claim for a back disability was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,Service connection is also denied for an acquired psychiatric disability (also claimed as anxiety and depression), a muscle disability to include as due to an unspecified undiagnosed illness, and a left leg condition. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left arm scar prior to January 20, 2014 have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to January 20, 2014 is remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is related to military sexual trauma (MST) and granted service connection. His Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is not separately service connected but will be considered in the evaluation of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 29, 2011. However, the Board found that the earliest date of claim should be December 28, 2007, and thus changed the effective date to this earlier date.