Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and substance abuse is rated at 50 percent since October 7, 2013 to December 19, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating or TDIU was denied as the criteria for both were not met.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) and assigned a rating of 20% for each condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of an etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses, as well as inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right side neck pain. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for HIV and major depressive disorder, but his claim for neck pain remains under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection, rating in excess of 50 percent for chronic headaches, and TDIU are all pending.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran currently has any mental health disorders, including PTSD. The examiner is asked to provide diagnoses for all current psychiatric disorders found following a review of the claims file and to opine on whether each disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted service connection, and effective May 10, 2012. The rating for his lumbar spine disability is also granted on that date. However, the issues of increased ratings for shoulder strains, lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle sprain, cervical strain, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded as new VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and major depressive disorder is dismissed. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) due to incomplete records and the need to obtain SSA records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding all diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service treatment records confirm a helicopter accident in 1973, but his VA examiner found no current mental diagnosis or link between symptoms and service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The claim for service connection for depressive disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with dysthymic disorder and insomnia, is found to be related to his service-connected left foot disability. The Board granted the claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified and chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression are granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for fibromyalgia and depression, as well as increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and depression. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD with MDD was denied, and the effective date for a 70% evaluation was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptoms post-service. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in September 2009. New evidence submitted since then did not relate to unestablished facts and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is granted with an effective date of November 25, 2009.