Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 11, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social isolation have persisted throughout the appeal period, warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, is found to be attributable to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been granted.,The Veteran's claim regarding a proposed reduction of his bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent is remanded. The matter of whether he warrants a higher disability rating since April 2016 will also be addressed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded and the VA Director of Compensation Service must consider an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (b).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but judgment and insight have been consistently intact. The Board finds the disability picture more nearly approximates a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of lumbar disc disease, right ear hearing loss, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and major depression are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his hypertension, depressive disorder, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder due to unresolved legal and factual questions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, seizure disorder, and depression due to incomplete records. The Veteran is advised to obtain new representation if desired.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current depression is related to his military service. However, the Board denied service connection for PTSD as there was no valid diagnosis of PTSD in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and depression. The Veteran needs to undergo a VA examination to provide more information about his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied because she was discharged under dishonorable conditions and her current mental health diagnoses are not related to events during her second deployment to Somalia.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for depressive disorder has been granted.,Service connection is established for a depressive disorder, as it is aggravated by the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for depression and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's military service and his current diagnosis of depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the Veteran's mailing address and missing service personnel records. The claim will be further developed by scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymic disorder and recurrent major depression is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran needs to provide additional medical records and VA will attempt to verify his stressors.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on whether his current condition is related to military service.