Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as appeals for higher ratings for his right knee and chronic fatigue syndrome, were dismissed. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis but denied any increase in the rating for sinusitis with headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and a traumatic brain injury have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder. For the claim of service connection for a traumatic brain injury, the Board determined that there was insufficient credible evidence to support the Veteran's contention of a head injury during basic training.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been rated at 70%, 40%, and 10% respectively. The VA has restored the 70% rating for depressive disorder effective February 1, 2017, and granted a TDIU from September 17, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The VA examiner’s opinion is inadequate as it does not consider all relevant evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his tinnitus is related to service.,The Veteran's chronic renal condition, characterized as chronic kidney disease stage three with left kidney stone, is remanded due to lack of an examination. The examiner must determine if it is at least as likely as not that the condition is attributable to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder) is remanded for a VA mental health examination. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's current mental health issues are related to his in-service experiences with his infant daughter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence. The issue of service connection for depression and psychiatric residuals of TBI is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of more than intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.,The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 9434.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence, but remanded for further medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied. The secondary service connection claim for depression due to service-connected scars from breast reduction surgery was also denied.

The Veteran's depression with anxiety and substance abuse resulted in occupational and social impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, with anxiety features was not granted a rating higher than 70 percent prior to October 29, 2014. The appeal for the total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Board has remanded claims for service connection for fatigue, low back, joint pain, and skin disabilities due to insufficient evidence of their etiology in relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder. The examiner is required to provide a clear rationale and address the potential effect of the Veteran's pain medications on his current psychiatric disability.

The appeal for service connection of hemorrhoids, heart condition, sinusitis, and urethritis is dismissed. The appeals to reopen claims for low back injury, neurological damage due to a back injury, residuals of head injury, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart palpitation and depression have been remanded. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has also been remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for depression.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for malaria was denied as the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for hypertension was denied because there is no evidence that it began during or within one year after service and there is no link between current hypertension and service.

The Veteran's facial scars have been rated as noncompensable due to the absence of characteristics of disfigurement or pain. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.,Several service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left hip disability, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, neurological disabilities of the buttocks and lower extremities, chronic pain, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for depression as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression separate from his service-connected PTSD.