Depression decisions — 2018

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with anxiety and depression, effective from January 11, 2011. The Veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of depression is related to his service, specifically the two inpatient periods during active duty in the Army.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability, nosebleeds/sinusitis, and OSA have been reopened. The effective date is set to July 31, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disturbances, diabetes mellitus type II, headache disability, sleep disability (claimed as sleep disturbances), peripheral neuropathy in multiple extremities, anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The reasons given were that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions or they were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis changes of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and pain disorder are currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), and major depressive disorder as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active duty.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for linear scar from cyst removal of the tailbone is dismissed. The Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the existence and etiology of any current psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's reported stressors events during his eligible period of service from August 1982 to June 2, 1986 need to be evaluated for their impact on his acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and her depressive and anxiety disorders are not related to any in-service injury or event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is service-connected due to a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's application for nonservice-connected pension was denied in November 1999 due to failure to show permanent and total disability. The claim was not reopened until December 3, 2012, when the Veteran applied again with evidence of Social Security benefits. The Board found that an earlier effective date prior to December 3, 2012 could not be assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder. The decision found that there was no current right shoulder disability, and the Veteran’s depressive disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder, is being remanded due to new evidence received by VA and the need for an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as additional medical opinions regarding her claimed right foot, left foot, bilateral ankle, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, low back, joint pain, eye, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and sleep apnea. However, additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, recurring syncope, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his residuals of a fracture of the cervical spine do not warrant an increased rating, and he was granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity secondary to this condition. The effective date for major depressive disorder has been set at January 20, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 70 percent for the entire increased rating period, and he is granted a TDIU.