Depression decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disability and granted TDIU based on his multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a higher disability rating for left knee osteoarthritis, and eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete employment records from the VA Medical Center and City of Bridgeport, which could affect the rating for IBS and the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient medical evidence. The claims will be further developed by obtaining current treatment records, scheduling VA examinations, and clarifying diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and increased ratings are inextricably intertwined with other issues, including TDIU. The Veteran's depression is remanded for a new opinion on causation and aggravation. His cervical and lumbar spine conditions, bilateral knee disabilities, and OSA are also remanded for additional examinations to determine etiology and severity.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety and depression, as it was not incurred in or related to service. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is attributed to other factors such as social stressors and pain from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension and major depression with PTSD were not service-connected, but he was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability. A TDIU was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to his service in Okinawa, Japan. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence, but has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 8, 2010, and a rating in excess of 50 percent from January 1, 2011, for service-connected major depressive disorder with pathological gambling is denied.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed for the Veteran's psychiatric, kidney, diverticulosis, and hypertension claims. The VA will attempt to verify a claimed in-service stressor and schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an initial compensable rating for ED, and a higher rating for Major Depressive Disorder. The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD, insufficient symptoms to meet the criteria for a 50 percent or higher rating for depressive disorder, and no penile deformity for ED.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was rated at 70 percent prior to December 15, 2016. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since August 30, 2010. The initial compensable rating for hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU have been remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for dissociative reaction (claimed as depression) is granted. The application to reopen the claim of service connection for inguinal hernia is denied.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, secondary to service-connected left ear hearing loss, needs further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran is granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD from March 30, 2010 to June 3, 2016. A higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now before the Board.,The issues of entitlement to service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability (peptic ulcer disease), acquired psychiatric disability (major depression disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD), diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus are remanded.