Depression decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was noted on his entrance examination and pre-existed service. The increase in severity during service has not been shown, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective January 12, 1995. His depression is not separately service-connected.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected, with the condition having its onset during active duty.,There is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's reported stressors are not sufficient to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder, likely began during or was caused by her military service. However, due to discrepancies in treatment dates and names used, additional records need to be obtained from private providers and VA. A new VA examination is required to determine if the condition existed prior to service and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection. The issues of low back disability, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and migraines are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the current conditions had their onset in service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders and right shoulder/arm disorder.

The Veteran's sleep and depression claims have been broadened to include service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The issues of increased ratings for left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are still pending.,The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective June 23, 2014.,She was granted a higher rating for her cervicogenic migraines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have separate service-connected conditions for depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, back disorder, neck disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or headaches. The claims are denied as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder condition did not have onset during active service, was not related to active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current herpes genitalis and acquired psychiatric disorder did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to active service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and conducting necessary medical and factual development.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and right ankle disorder.,Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) as it is at least as likely as not related to active duty service. The bilateral knee disorder is also found to be related to active duty service. However, the right ankle disorder is not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating greater than 30 percent from November 6, 2012 to April 24, 2017. For the period after April 25, 2017, his symptoms have not met the criteria for a rating greater than 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of her service connection claim, including TDIU.

The Veteran's major depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Major Depression, has been reopened and subsequently granted on a secondary basis due to aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and HIV as secondary to a psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.