Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims of service connection for residual injury to the face with dental trauma and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, affective disorder, and adjustment disorder) are remanded.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for low back disability, left arm disability, and depression due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar mood disorder, depression, and anxiety, as these conditions are found to have been incurred during service.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and major depressive disorder (MDD), but granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and anxiety disorder are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's fatigue is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability. A rating of 70 percent for the psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's OSA, depressive disorder, right knee pain, left knee pain, and right ankle DJD are all granted service connection. The rating for chronic low back pain is increased to 40 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at a 100 percent disability rating for the period from December 29, 2011. This decision grants a higher rating than previously assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD is also granted.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a liver disorder. The Veteran's claims for stomach disability and generalized anxiety disorder with depression were granted as they are presumed due to military service.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it was inferred from his allegations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting evidence and gaps in medical records.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions has been granted. The specific conditions include low back strain, hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and residuals of exposure to tuberculosis disease.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder, is granted. The effective date for the TDIU is August 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression has been reopened and is granted. The issues of service connection for neck condition, heart condition, GERD, and acquired psychiatric disorder are also addressed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis or link between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and the need to determine whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD based on a verified stressor event in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and the need to determine whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD based on a verified stressor event in service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The claims for TDIU and an increased rating for major depressive disorder are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. Additional VA treatment records, including those from non-VA providers, need to be obtained.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for migraine headaches, sleep apnea, and depressive disorder was granted. The claim for right ankle strain associated with pes planus is being remanded.