Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress (claimed as PTSD due to military sexual trauma) because there is no evidence of a current disability, or any link between the claimed conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to October 26, 2016, is denied. The claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder beginning on October 26, 2016, is also denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, now diagnosed as PTSD, was reduced from a 70% rating to a 50% rating in February 2015. The appeal is dismissed because the claim has been resolved in favor of the Veteran with the restoration of the 70% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding a medical nexus between these conditions and in-service incidents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, obesity, impotency, and depression due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, has been reopened. However, the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety disorder; service connection for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder; initial compensable rating for a left knee strain with limited extension; and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are remanded because the VA examinations were inadequate and additional development is required.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but his claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder) related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for neck disability, bilateral pes planus (claimed as bilateral foot injury), thoracic kyphoscoliosis (claimed as a back injury), anxiety disorder not otherwise specified also claimed as depression, and headache disorder due to additional development being required.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and Alzheimer’s disease. The issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete SSD records and the need for a Board hearing on his PTSD and PDD claims.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for arthropathy and joint pain, specifically involving the left and right ankles and the left and right hips, has been granted. The evidence now suggests that the Veteran may have psoriatic arthritis affecting his ankles and hips.,The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lung condition, claimed as secondary to medications taken to treat service-connected psoriasis, has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected residual scars, bilateral lower quadrants, associated with laparoscopic hernia repairs is dismissed.,A 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Hodgkin's lymphoma and a psychiatric disorder were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claims. The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to cardiac arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, hypoxia, COPD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, major depressive disorder, panic disorder and anxiety disorder is granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran has a separate upper back condition related to service, as well as whether he has diabetes mellitus type II or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) that is related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and multiple knee disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 2013.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection of left heel spur was granted. An initial rating of 50 percent for chronic adjustment disorder, with mixed anxiety and depression, is also granted prior to May 1, 2018.