Depression decisions — 2018

The Board found that the additional disability of back and legs caused by January 2009 spine surgery was not proximately caused by VA's fault or an unforeseen event, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and depression are service-connected, with the PTSD warranting a 100% rating throughout the appeal period. The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for TDIU and financial assistance.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 13, 1988 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The earlier effective date has rendered the June 1988 rating decision non-final and moot the Veteran's motion for CUE.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted as it is considered a qualifying chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness. The Board finds the evidence sufficient to establish that the Veteran has had symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome since his military service, and these symptoms are related to his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development of her claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, associated MDD and anxiety disorder are service-connected due to in-service sexual assault. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of coccydynia for which she is already receiving a rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression, has been granted. His rating for chronic bronchitis and asthma remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment, with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depression, irritability, hypervigilance, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. The Veteran was granted a rating of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric conditions and whether any substance abuse conditions are related to those disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder was denied by the Board. The earliest effective date assigned is October 30, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative chronic diarrhea is currently rated at the maximum allowable rating of 30 percent, and no higher.,For the period prior to May 1, 2014, his bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent. From May 1, 2014, it has been rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records, as well as new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disorder, and considering whether there has been any worsening in his major depression since his last VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure. The TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these decisions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, leg pain, and foot pain are all under review.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and reopened the claims for SAH and SHA. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service, while the claims for SAH and SHA are denied as there are no qualifying disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to military service and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection was granted for schizophrenia, but the effective date of March 11, 2014, is determined to be the earliest possible based on a liberalizing law. The Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's depressive disorder is secondary to pain associated with his service-connected right knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.