Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's major depression is rated at 70 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied. The Veteran also appealed for a TDIU but was denied as he remains employed full-time.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on the account of being housebound was denied because he is able to perform activities of daily living independently, and he is not bedridden or permanently housebound.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to her service-connected vertigo and Meniere’s syndrome.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating due to hospital treatment for service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's appeal on the issues of service connection and rating for obstructive sleep apnea, opioid dependence, and major depressive disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myalgias, bilateral hearing loss disability, PTSD, a lumbosacral spine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (major depressive disorder) have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities due to the claimed conditions or incidents of service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (major depression) is attributed to service and granted. The bilateral hand disability (de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis) is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression because the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected status-post pilonidal cyst with open scar. The Veteran also received an increased rating of 20% for his status-post pilonidal cyst with open scar.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions. The main issue is to determine if there was a left foot condition during his military service and whether it is related to his diabetes.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50% from February 2, 2015, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, as there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and the diagnoses were attributed to pre-military childhood abuse.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, and acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being reviewed with additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, is reopened and granted. The Veteran's new evidence includes VA treatment records from September 2012 that diagnosed him with various psychological disorders.

The Veteran's depression is granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity neurological disorders are denied, but the Veteran was granted service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities. Effective dates for service connection were established for lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 90 percent.

An initial disability rating of 10 percent for IBS was granted prior to June 26, 2017. An initial disability rating of 50 percent for an adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was granted from July 10, 2017.,From July 10, 2017 onwards, a higher disability rating for the adjustment disorder could not be granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for depression and granted her claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The evidence is sufficient to establish that she experienced in-service sexual trauma which contributed to her current diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Substantive Appeal was not timely filed, and therefore, his appeal is denied.