Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and psychiatric disability (depression) have been granted. The claim for residuals of a head injury is reopened, while the claim for psychiatric disability remains pending as it was previously denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for left hand, right hand, low back, left leg, right leg, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, sleep apnea, residuals of head trauma, and headache disorder as well as the psychiatric disorders. The VA will obtain all outstanding VA treatment records and provide a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, and an initial rating of 50 percent for depressive disorder is granted. The issue of a higher rating for depressive disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of proper notice and because the Veteran's private medical records have not been obtained. The VA will obtain relevant, outstanding private medical records from Dr. M.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information on whether the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder is aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and an examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial increased rating for Major Depressive Disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection, rating, and increased rating are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder (mild to moderate depressive disorder and PTSD) is rated at 70 percent, effective from May 20, 2005. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted starting from May 18, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, depression, began during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The issues of PTSD based on military sexual trauma, an acquired psychiatric disorder including anxiety, depression, nervousness, and sleep disturbances, and migraines or tension headaches as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is likely related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of service connection for a shoulder condition, residuals of a back injury, bilateral hearing loss, disability manifested by earaches, tinnitus, and headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression) due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and polyneuropathies of fingertips are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.,Service connection is also granted for a psychiatric disorder including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for major depression and TDIU remain in dispute. Additional development is needed, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of her service-connected major depression and determine if it can be separated from other diagnoses. The claim for TDIU will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extraschedular basis.