Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to May 24, 2012, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine from October 14, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of the left foot and related spinal disorders, have precluded her from locomotion without assistive devices. As a result, she is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his mood and unspecified depressive disorders, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremities, and cervical OA, DDD and IVDS have been granted. The effective date is set to December 7, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assigned a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted based on the evidence showing a current diagnosis, an in-service stressor, and a link between the two.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his legal guardian withdrawing the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depressive disorder NOS and alcohol abuse has been productive of total occupational and social impairment for the entire appeal period, warranting a 100 percent rating. As his TDIU claim is moot due to the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD, his TDIU issue is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. His service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his lumbar radiculitis of the left lower extremity is also rated at 10 percent. The appeals for hearing loss, TDIU, and RLS were withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records of in-service and post-service psychiatric treatment, as well as relevant medical treatment at private hospitals. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred during his period of honorable active service. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining outstanding private and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The effective date of service connection for major depressive disorder is set to May 18, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD disability, along with his major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,His symptoms included depressed mood, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, chronic sleep impairment, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, socially-isolative behaviors, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), and lumbar spine disorders, all secondary to his service-connected pes planus disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression, is proximately due to his service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular disorder. The Board finds that service connection is warranted for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that any service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially and materially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran's left knee replacement and right knee DJD are each rated at their respective disability levels.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from September 3, 2014. The claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent prior to that date and a TDIU has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service-connection for PTSD, MDD and Anxiety Disorder due to lack of credible in-service stressors and no link between current psychiatric conditions and service.