Depression decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claim is not yet fully adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and medical examination is required.

The Board has determined that further medical assessment is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a diagnosed acquired mental disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic anxiety disorder with anger and depression symptoms, headaches with memory loss (claimed as migraines), and sleep apnea have been denied. The decision to deny the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is final.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for chronic anxiety disorder with anger and depression symptoms and headaches with memory loss (claimed as migraines). These claims are now pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has caused total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD, was not incurred or aggravated by service. However, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his acquired psychiatric disability, including alcohol use disorder, is considered to be attributable to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and his service. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current diagnoses are related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety was granted service connection effective November 2, 2011. A rating of 20 percent for hypertension is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, headache disorder, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus. The issues were decided as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the intertwining nature of his erectile dysfunction and acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 50 percent for service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder from May 31, 2000 to October 3, 2002.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's IBS/ulcerative colitis status post proctocolectomy and ileostomy, as well as his PTSD with MDD, need further examination to determine their relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar strain, right great toe laceration and crush injury, depression, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The GERD claim is remanded as the VA examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to in-service symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to the use of a wheelchair, medication for a skin disorder, and wrist braces. The reasons include that none of these conditions are service-connected, or if they were, their use does not benefit other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted service connection. The rating for migraines remains remanded as a new examination is needed to assess the severity of his headaches. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined relationship with the migraine issue.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of March 22, 2017. The evidence is in relative equipoise whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depressive and major depressive disorders with psychotic features, finding that the onset of these conditions occurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was denied as the appeal was untimely filed.