Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his depressive disorder from December 26, 2010 to December 17, 2016 was denied by the Board. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his active duty service in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm. Service connection for PTSD has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are also being examined to determine their current severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of regular aid and attendance or permanent household status.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum possible rating for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded it for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, particularly Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. The Veteran needs to provide verification for a reported in-service stressor involving his shipmate's death, and he should be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depressive Disorder, is not related to his service-connected lumbar paravertebral myositis and fracture of both bones of the left forearm with arthritis. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

Your original claims for PTSD and Depressive Disorder have been denied, but your case has been resolved as the RO granted service connection for an unspecified personality disorder (which was originally claimed as PTSD and Depressive Disorder). As a result, the issues of PTSD and Depressive Disorder are no longer in controversy.

The Board has decided the case in favor of the Veteran and remands it for further development, including verifying stressor events and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected, while hyperglycemia and cervical spine disability are denied. Diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea were not diagnosed during the appeal period.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and panic disorder, is related to and aggravated by service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are currently rated at 70 percent, but a higher rating is sought. The Board has ordered remand for further examination to assess the current severity of his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's bipolar affective disorder, mixed, was previously rated at 50% prior to March 25, 2015. Since then, it has been rated at 70%. The Board found the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD results in occupational and social impairment, but not to the degree that would warrant a higher disability rating. The current evaluation of 30 percent is appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, neck, back, ankle, and foot conditions, made it impossible for him to engage in substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board granted a TDIU on an accrued basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and MDD with mild cognitive disorder, as well as her TDIU claim due to worsening of her psychiatric condition. The VA will obtain updated medical records and provide the Veteran with a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, left shoulder biceps tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint arthrosis and osteoarthritis, right elbow disability, major depressive disorder, other specified trauma and stress related disorder, and anxiety disorder unspecified have been granted. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and assigned a rating of 70% effective January 30, 2014.,Effective January 30, 2014, the Veteran meets the schedular criteria for Total Disability Evaluation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

A higher rating of 10 percent is granted for service-connected hypertension. Service connection for psychiatric disability and back disability are granted, but left knee disability remains remanded. Other claims related to these issues are also remanded.