Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, is granted as service connected due to exposure to combat-related stressors during Survival Training in November 1964.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was denied in October 2008 due to lack of evidence linking ADD to his military service. The Board has now remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a chronic breathing disorder, and a mandibular fracture.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, TDIU, and increased rating for residuals of a right-hand fracture due to potential inconsistencies in diagnoses and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current depression is at least as likely as not caused by her in-service diagnosis and symptoms.,Service connection for low back disability, claimed as mild multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral medial tibial stress syndrome, is remanded. An addendum opinion is needed before the merits can be decided.,The Veteran's service connection claim for cognitive impairment and memory impairment is remanded. The claims are related to her in-service exposure to environmental hazards and her service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in June 2018.

The Veteran's claim to establish service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, claimed as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied. The Board has reopened the previously-denied claim of major depression with polysubstance abuse and granted it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, granted for some conditions, and remanded for others. The appeal is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for depressive disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, as well as bilateral hand scars. The evidence now shows current diagnoses of these conditions and a credible in-service injury that could be related to these disorders.

The Veteran's brain tumor residuals are granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been granted. The appeal to reopen the pension claim was also granted, but the higher rate of pension is denied due to the Veteran's income.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, a depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder, is granted. The claim remains pending as the May 17, 2017, VA Form 9 constitutes a timely substantive appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as there is insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's asthma was restored to a 60 percent rating, and he is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss, and the claims for bilateral knee conditions, heart condition (also claimed as atrioventricular block and endocarditis), anxiety, and depression are remanded due to a lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for depression was granted. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and left hip and knee conditions, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders are not currently addressed as they have been remanded.