Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's son, A.C., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to diagnosed conditions including seizure disorder, sleep apnea, ADHD, and major depressive disorder. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there was no new and material evidence received.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity vascular disease was denied as there was no new and material evidence received.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability (depression and generalized anxiety disorder) was granted due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 12, 2010 because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for left foot arthritis and remanded the issues of service connection for depression, increased rating for left knee chondromalacia, and increased evaluation for RSD of the LLE. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo examinations as directed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his service-connected conditions, including onychomycosis and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hammer toes require a new VA examination to assess their current severity.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected major depressive disorder and residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg, which causes significant impairment in both social and occupational settings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for colorectal cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and his current conditions, nor did the medical literature support a causal link between the contaminants present at Camp Lejeune and colorectal cancer.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder is remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2016 VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as the evidence did not show he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic myeloid leukemia.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her service-connected major depressive disorder is denied. The current 50 percent disability rating adequately reflects the severity of her symptoms, which include reduced reliability and productivity in social and occupational settings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea and scars. The TDIU claim is also raised.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying a reported stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including unspecified anxiety disorder with PTSD features and major depressive disorder, are granted. The rating for the service-connected major depressive disorder is increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted an increased rating to 70 percent prior to August 25, 2015 and TDIU was granted prior to that date.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is denied as there is no evidence showing a link between his in-service symptoms and the current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of prostrating attacks for migraine headaches, ankylosis in the right thumb, or limitation of motion in the right index finger.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board finds a remand necessary for an additional VA examination to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from his service-connected PTSD, including distinguishing symptoms due to nonservice-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability, including depression. The reopened claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the case due to the need for an updated VA examination.