Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The issues are whether PTSD is related to service, whether other diagnosed disorders are related to service, and whether any are caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability (torticollis) was previously denied in July 1971, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia is not warranted as it does not constitute a recognized disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for major depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 9, 2012 and in excess of 50 percent from April 9, 2012 to October 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depressive disorder) due to insufficient evidence. The claims will be further developed by obtaining additional information about in-service stressors and providing a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder and right wrist disabilities. The reduction of a 50% rating to a 30% rating for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is upheld, but the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating prior to July 25, 2016, and in excess of 30% thereafter, remains pending. The Board has also remanded two issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU. The SMC based on loss of use claim is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's skin disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service. The initial rating for major depression remains at 50 percent, but the Veteran is granted a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, back, hip, knee, and foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a lower back disability was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The case is remanded for further consideration regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder).

The Board has denied service connection for congestive heart failure/cardiomyopathy and depression. The claims of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for tendonitis of the left shoulder with degenerative joint disease, right shoulder replacement, left hip arthroplasty, right hip arthroplasty, and fracture left 5th finger with flexion deformity distal proximal interphalangeal joint are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a sinus disability, skin disability, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) are all granted. However, the claim for service connection for ear disability is remanded due to lack of examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence, specifically the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. These records are needed to make a more informed decision on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, a rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical postlaminectomy syndrome, and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent from December 10, 1992 to June 17, 1996. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD with major depressive disorder is moot as the Veteran has already been granted a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Major Depressive Disorder is granted as his current diagnosis is linked to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart disorder have been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence supports the reopening of these claims, but does not find sufficient evidence to grant service connection for any of them.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for depression and service connection for lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, hemangioma of the face, OSA, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen any of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as the evidence did not support a finding that MDD began during service or was related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.