Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive disorder and hypertension, both secondary to headaches. The decision was based on the evidence and law available at that time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of a grant of service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service. The appeals are mixed, with some issues being granted and others not.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been rated at 30 percent since the beginning of his appeal. The VA and private treatment records show that he experiences symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability, and occasional insomnia but generally functions satisfactorily in both work and social settings.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of sinusitis, depressive disorder, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left lower extremity chronic lumbosacral strain/sprain with sciatica are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and left ankle disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia and depression is granted. The claims are also remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with general anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 17, 2015, for the award of a 70 percent initial rating for MDD is dismissed as moot. The Board finds that there is no remaining case or controversy pertaining to this matter.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service due to combat stressors.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, memory disorder, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, fatigue, and hair loss are granted with effective dates of November 5, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, as it was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disability. The Veteran's major depressive disorder with alcohol abuse and TDIU appeals were also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's variously diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression/anxiety, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as he has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor, and the evidence supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depressive Disorder was granted with an effective date of October 21, 2014. The rating assigned was 30 percent before October 28, 2015, and increased to 50 percent thereafter. However, the Veteran contests the effective date and seeks a higher initial rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorder for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals, so there are no remaining issues for review.

The Veteran's initial ratings for depression, left shoulder labral repair, thoracolumbar spine strain, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The specific issues include recurrent skin disorder, psychiatric disorders (including depressive disorder), sleep disorders (including OSA), peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer residuals, and tinnitus.