Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety disorder. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, a mood disorder, and depression) due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The claims are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia has been reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD. Claims for secondary service connection for heart condition due to PTSD, hypercholesterolemia, brain trauma, arthritis of the hands, neck, back, and shoulders, and degenerative joint of the sacroiliac joint are also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the validity of the Veteran's reported stressors for PTSD and Depression. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for residuals of cerebral concussion with headaches and TDIU were denied. The highest level of cognitive impairment assessed was '1', which corresponds to a 10% evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, specifically whether they are related to service-connected tinnitus. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records, provide VCAA notice on establishing an in-service stressor based on personal assault, schedule a new VA examination, and consider aggravation claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression have been granted. However, the claim for a compensable evaluation for his resolved left knee strain has been denied.

The Board has determined that the April 2013 rating decision was not final and remanded the claims for further development. The Veteran's back disability claim is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion, while his PTSD claim requires verification of reported stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the underlying claims are still not substantiated.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an effective date prior to February 29, 2012 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% disability rating, effective from February 23, 2012. A higher rating of over 70% for PTSD is denied since June 23, 2013. The Veteran is also granted TDIU status since January 7, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including nervous condition (depressive reaction), bipolar disorder, PTSD, general anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to provide a more thorough opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and depression. The VA will attempt to obtain morning reports from his service unit and conduct an addendum examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypothyroidism was denied.,The request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder was also denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to missing service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's hypertension, depression, and anxiety claims will be reviewed again after obtaining these records.

The Board restored service connection for traumatic pancreatitis, diabetes, major depressive disorder, cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease status post MI and CABG, and residuals of stroke. The TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were also restored.

The Board has granted a 100 percent initial rating for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) from September 27, 2000, finding that the Veteran's symptoms and impairment more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his education and work history did not support a conclusion that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The right ear hearing loss disability and asthma claims are remanded due to new evidence received since the final denial in February 1994. The acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and PTSD) claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and verifying his claimed stressors.