Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and major depressive disorder. Service connection is denied for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 16, 2017, reflecting significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized as other specified trauma stressor-related disorder and major depressive disorder, is rated at a 50 percent evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's tinnitus and rhinitis have been granted service connection. The Board has remanded the claims for chronic pain disorder, bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, and eczema due to unclear etiology and severity.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent, and he has requested a higher rating. The Board has ordered remand to obtain updated treatment records and for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and anxiety have worsened, requiring a higher disability rating. The Board has ordered an additional VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic low back strain. The Veteran needs further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service, including a TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is not caused by an event, injury or disease in active duty service and is not etiologically related to it.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for depressive disorder due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted, with secondary service connection issues remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disability) and erectile dysfunction (claimed as secondary to the service-connected bilateral foot disability and the claimed acquired psychiatric disorder).

The Veteran's headaches are found to be etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for headaches. The psychiatric disability claim is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vision loss of the left eye, balance disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and memory loss) due to incomplete/inaccurate factual premises in previous opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified are related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are also found to be related to service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 30, 2004 for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder due to its manifestation before that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disturbance due to nightmares, traumatic brain injury with memory loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depression. The Board found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder NOS, PTSD and depression, is related to his military service. The Board finds that the current disability requirement of direct service connection has been met, and the remaining question is whether such is related to an in-service event or illness.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are granted as service connected, with the Board resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in April 2007 due to unverified in-service stressors. The claim has been reopened and the Veteran is now granted service connection for MDD.