Depression decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for L4-L5 and L5-S1 degenerative disc disease with clinical left lumbar radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and major depression, to include insomnia. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on PTSD and right knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim, are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board grants a 70 percent rating from the date of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her hip, hand, and upper extremity disabilities. The low back disability claim is also being remanded as the VA examination did not include necessary joint testing.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The VA examiner found no evidence linking the current diagnoses to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and depression. The Veteran is asked to undergo a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression and orthopedic conditions such as left knee and right thumb injuries, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's depressive disorder claim has been reopened and granted. The left eye disability, kidney condition, mild cognitive impairment, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy claims are all denied.

The Veteran's spondylolisthesis and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) are granted service connection. The claim for joint and muscular pain is remanded.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder. The Board has remanded the case to consider a motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision that denied service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and major depressive disorder is remanded due to lack of adequate etiology opinion.

The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health diagnosis raised by the record and has requested additional VA treatment records, service personnel records, and confirmation of the Veteran's Vietnam service dates. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA treatment records and the claims for service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and depression must be remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were so severe as to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since October 27, 2009. The Board has determined that the evidence of record demonstrates this and affords the benefit of doubt to grant a TDIU effective October 27, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is reopened and granted, with the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorder, strokes, and major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and left eye macula condition are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service, with two private physicians finding a link between the disabilities and service while one VA examiner did not. Service treatment records show mental health issues during service, and both private physicians found current diagnoses were secondary to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, schizophrenia and dysthymia (originally claimed as depression), due to new evidence showing a possible link between his military service and these conditions. The case is remanded for further development, including verification of periods of active duty and ACDUTRA, and for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left shoulder disorders in conjunction with the right knee disorder, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 19, 2011.