Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for ankylosis and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,Service connection for periodontal disease (for compensation purposes) is denied as it cannot be considered a compensable disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorders were all granted initial ratings. The lumbar condition received a 60% rating, the PTSD and depression conditions prior to May 17, 2004 also received a 60% rating, and the total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability was granted for that period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disorders, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence addressing the third element of service connection. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder have been granted. The Board found the evidence to be at least in equipoise that both conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, secondary to a service-connected cognitive disorder cannot be fully adjudicated without additional information from VA examiners.

The Veteran's current dermatitis is not related to his service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus, and the claim for service connection was granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, other specified anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) is found to be related to his time in active service, and the claim for service connection was granted.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and depressive disorder, as well as her increased rating claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. These issues will be addressed in a future examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depression. The claim of service connection for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, was denied. The claim for service connection for major depression, also secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, has been reopened but requires further development.,The claims of service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), both secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, are pending further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability, heart disability, acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD and depression), and alcoholism due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need to verify the claimed stressor.

The Board dismissed all claims related to service connection and disability ratings, including those for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), depression, residual scar, right forehead, painful scar, right forehead, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and a psychiatric disability including PTSD. The rating for total right knee replacement is also being remanded.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise, and thus grants service connection for PTSD and Depression as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right arm/shoulder disability, back disability, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) due to potential new evidence or clarification of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the Veteran's reported assault at Fort Dix in 1972. The VA is instructed to obtain Social Security Administration records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his cervical spine condition, another for his head injuries, and a third for his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the case to obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding the earliest date of ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issue of service connection for a bilateral eye condition is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, umbilical hernia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, depression) as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these previously denied claims.