Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unverified in-service stressors and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various knee disabilities and major depressive disorder have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals during the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate examiner that addresses whether any current diagnoses are related to service and if so, what type of service connection is applicable.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to symptoms such as irritable behavior and anger outbursts, which do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is granted as related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety and depression, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that service connection for headaches is not warranted due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claims for compensation for residuals of intracranial aneurysm, cerebral embolism with cerebral infarction, with non-rupture cerebral aneurysm (claimed as residuals of multiple strokes), right and left knee earlier effective date and increased ratings, unspecified depression initial increased rating claim, and TDIU are REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has worsened since the last examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine its current severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including depression and PTSD. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred in service or is related to his military service. The issue of alcohol dependency as secondary to a psychiatric disability remains in dispute.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the depressive disorder rating remained at 30 percent despite some transient symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of heart disability or fatigue, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claims for left knee and depressive disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and the medication used to treat his psychiatric condition. The appeal concerning an earlier effective date for the PTSD rating is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 50 percent, but the Board denied an initial rating in excess of this amount as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent prior to July 31, 2013 and 70 percent on or after that date. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, are found to be related to his service in Kuwait. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder is reopened. The skin disorder claim is denied. Service connection for restrictive ventilatory defect remains at a 60 percent evaluation.

Service connection is granted for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The appeals regarding other conditions are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sarcoidosis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and/or bipolar disorder) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an applicable period of service during which he could be granted service connection.

Entitlement to service connection for depression was denied. The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence is rated at 30 percent prior to September 29, 2015; 50 percent from September 29, 2015 to May 1, 2016; and 70 percent thereafter.,TDIU was denied prior to September 29, 2015.