Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and intermittent explosive disorder. The evidence shows no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his service connection for Parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches, psychiatric disability, kidney stones, and liver condition. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant total social impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a bilateral knee condition, a bilateral leg condition, sleep apnea, and a liver condition (secondary to pain medication for a bilateral knee condition). The claims for a bilateral upper extremity condition are also remanded. Additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran’s complete service personnel records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a trauma disorder is denied because there was no prior claim or intent to apply for benefits before August 19, 2014.

The Veteran's depression, sleep apnea, left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes have been granted service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active duty service. The Veteran needs a VA examination and any relevant VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including depression and dysthymia, to include as secondary to service-connected hearing loss. The weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are proximately due to or have been aggravated beyond their natural progression by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, which includes PTSD and depression, is rated at 50 percent for the period prior to November 2, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is at least as likely as not related to an in-service assault. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is rated at 50 percent disabling. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The decision also grants a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions of degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left knee DJD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and major depressive disorder. The grants are based on these conditions being proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70 percent, effective October 7, 2010. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected as it pre-existed service and did not worsen during service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service-connected as it is at least as likely as not related to complaints of chronic back pain during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected skin disorder caused his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including social anxiety disorder and depression. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if he has these conditions and their relationship to his service-connected condition.

The claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The Veteran's back disorder, gastritis, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are all under review.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's end stage dementia was related to his military service and service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and CAD. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.