Depression decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period from January 30, 2008 to August 20, 2013.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been granted service connection. Service connection for fibromyalgia, acid reflux, and other conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims are pending further examination and medical nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, and TDIU due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected respiratory disorders (COPD). The evidence did not support a finding that the depression was caused or worsened by the COPD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and trichotillomania, as related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, MDD, asthma, and other conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of spinal surgery, to include right sided numbness and pain was denied. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for depressive disorder was also denied.

The Board has expanded the claim to include service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions are currently diagnosed, but there is insufficient evidence to determine if they are related to his in-service stressors or service.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date and initial rating for service-connected depression is being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC). The issues are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's depression, bipolar disability, and prostate cancer are service connected. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation and an earlier effective date for PTSD with near continuous depression was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 70 percent, but granted an effective date of January 31, 2011.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, was rated at 70 percent prior to November 2, 2015. After that date, the rating remained at 70 percent due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective November 29, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim will be remanded for a supplemental medical opinion, while his psychiatric disorder claim requires additional VA treatment records and a supplemental medical opinion from a psychiatrist.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with anxious distress prior to March 5, 2016 was denied. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected depressive disorder with anxious distress prior to October 7, 2014 was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, hepatitis B and C, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Board has decided that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left ankle, left knee, and toe disorders. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and differentiate its symptoms from those of an unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran also seeks higher ratings for PTSD, but this issue has been referred back for further evaluation.