Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicides. The Veteran is also being asked to provide more information about his alleged exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of right knee lateral meniscectomy, to include a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 1, 2018, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter, is remanded. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, but not higher. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD and its relationship to his military service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, and whether it is at least as likely as not that any acquired psychiatric disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as there are conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is reopened, and the appeal to this extent is allowed. Service connection for PTSD, including major depressive disorder and panic disorder, is granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The claims for evaluations in excess of 10% for left knee medial collateral ligament laxity, right knee medial collateral ligament laxity, and left knee Osgood Schlatter's disease with infrapatellar tendonitis and osteomyelitis prior to June 2017 were denied.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and major depressive disorder are granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded both issues due to lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are granted as they are found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for service connection and increase in rating are granted, but the issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, effectively precluded substantially gainful employment from October 16, 2001 to August 31, 2003. From September 1, 2003 to February 5, 2013, the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for depression associated with ulcerative colitis and an earlier effective date for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete service records, uncorroborated in-service stressors, and a need for VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as it is directly related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran is also being asked to provide VA treatment records and undergo examinations for his PTSD and diabetes.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for torqued sacrum associated with osteoarthritis of lumbar spine and hammertoes. The effective date claim for major depressive disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is granted as service connected due to a credible in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing evidence, specifically a September 2013 statement from the Veteran's friend R.J. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depression with anxiety has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of major depression and anxiety, which is linked to his in-service complaints and treatment.