Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right pelvis disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,The Veteran's right leg disability and depressive disorder are both rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, alcohol abuse disorder, adjustment disorder, and PTSD; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); and erectile dysfunction (ED), as these issues are inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches and depressive disorder have been granted. The increased rating claims for sleep apnea, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service, a service-connected disability, or VA medical care. The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a separate and distinct mental health disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and mood disorder. This includes obtaining STRs, VA treatment records, and private mental health treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to provide additional evidence and respond to a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 20, 2011 for a compensable rating for his unspecified depressive disorder cannot be granted as he did not receive proper notice of the September 2005 rating decision and thus the decision is not final. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is rated at 50 percent. The VA examiner found no evidence of ischemic heart disease or other heart diseases related to service. Service connection for heart disease due to herbicide exposure cannot be granted as there is no presumption applicable.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent prior to February 2, 2013 and 70 percent beginning February 2, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection, increased ratings, and reopening of previously denied skin and respiratory disability claims have been granted. The Veteran has a diagnosed major depressive disorder related to his PTSD. Service connection is established for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities. New evidence was received to reopen the skin and respiratory disability claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are service-connected, with the July 1991 in-service fight being considered to have occurred in the line of duty. The Veteran's migraine headaches and TBI are also found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and/or schizoaffective disorder, is being remanded due to inadequate examination opinions. Additional development is required to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, substance abuse, and PTSD. The evidence received since the June 1999 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Acquired Psychiatric Disability (Unspecified Depressive Disorder) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the issue of a compensable initial rating for traumatic brain injury (TBI). The decision is pending further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, arthritis of the hips, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, a heart disorder, cold weather injuries, prostate cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her knee disabilities and bipolar and major depressive disorders were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for upper and lower back, allergic rhinitis and/or a sinus condition, and acquired psychiatric disability to include depression, nervousness, and/or PTSD due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service connection claim is not about service connection at all.