Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 40 percent from December 23, 2015. The earlier effective date of August 9, 2005 for service connection has been granted.,The Veteran’s depressive disorder remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran is granted service connection for Parkinson’s disease, cervical dystonia as secondary to Parkinson's disease, and depression as secondary to Parkinson's disease due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence from Social Security Administration (SSA) records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with recurrent major depression is rated at 70 percent since August 15, 2012. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted due to the severity of his disability. Additionally, the Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a major neurocognitive disorder resulting from a TBI and depressive disorder), and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion regarding the severity of his PTSD, as well as whether his unspecified depressive disorder is related or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion regarding the severity of his PTSD, as well as whether his unspecified depressive disorder is related or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is found to be related to his in-service stressors. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran’s periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, obtain his complete service treatment records, and provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is rated at 70 percent prior to December 3, 2013, and denied for a higher rating. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the level of disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence indicating that his acquired psychiatric disorder or PTSD is related to his service. The new medical evidence of record does not show a link between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and his service.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia, claimed as depression, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture to the left ankle. The effective date is September 28, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a low back disability secondary to service-connected knee disabilities and increased ratings for PFS and DJD of the right and left knees. The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated with new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to have been caused by or incurred during his period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, particularly regarding SSA disability records and their relevance to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 12, 2011. His prostate cancer residuals were granted a 60 percent rating from September 12, 2011 to October 20, 2014, and a 40 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has denied an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral tinea pedis with hyperkeratosis and has remanded the issues of service connection for a pelvic disability, hysterectomy, and depression.

The Board has denied service connection for left foot and right foot disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's alleged stressor and to provide a VA examination.