Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder, but has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and a substance abuse disorder, as well as entitlement to an earlier effective date for gastroesophageal reflux disease/GERD/hiatal hernia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, specifically her depression and anxiety disorder. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are aggravated by service-connected migraine headaches and if they are related to active duty service including exposure to contaminants in Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective June 1, 2009 and DEA benefits effective June 1, 2009. The Board found the Veteran was unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities as of May 31, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI and MDD have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is currently employed as a maintenance engineer at St. Francis Medical Center, which does not render him unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and secondary substance abuse disorder, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental condition related to his military service.

This decision denies service connection for burns and non-service connected pension benefits. The Veteran's burn injuries are not related to his military service, and he does not have the required wartime service for nonservice-connected pension benefits.,The remaining issues of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied prior to March 18, 2015. From that date forward, he received an increased rating of 20 percent. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU effective from May 8, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including unspecified schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and schizophreniform disorder, are service-connected as they likely began during her active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, depressive disorder, and polysubstance dependence in remission have rendered her unemployable due to her mental health disabilities. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including claims for a nervous condition, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, psychoneurosis and agoraphobia, is granted. The case is remanded to allow the AOJ to adjudicate the reopened claim on the merits.

The claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability is reopened, but the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any current psychiatric disabilities and their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder (NOS) is caused by his service-connected enuresis and grants this claim.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetes mellitus (secondary to major depressive disorder), narcolepsy, and insomnia. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear diagnoses and a need for a new VA examination using DSM-V criteria. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant psychiatric treatment records and conducting a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU effective November 22, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for Major Depressive Disorder, as secondary to PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective December 13, 2005. The rating is granted as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection for depressive disorder is granted. The appeal seeking to reopen a claim for service connection for a chronic disability to account for bilateral arm disability is granted, but the issue of service connection for mental health conditions other than depressive disorder (to include alcohol and cannabis abuse disorders) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 22, 2009 was granted. The increased rating claims and TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional development.