Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

Service connection for residuals of a brain hemorrhage, to include as due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune is denied.,Service connection for depressive disorder secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury and migraine headache disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The Veteran's MDD rating has been increased to 70 percent, effective March 8, 2014.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for migraine headaches was granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and service connection for fibromyalgia is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective December 11, 2018.,Service connection for COPD and hypertension are both denied. The Veteran's MDD is found to aggravate his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which include right knee replacement with fusion, major depressive disorder, right hip, left hip, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for MDD with anxiety disorder was denied. Prior to January 23, 2019, the disability rating remained at 50 percent. Starting from January 23, 2019, it was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the issues of propriety of the rating reductions for left and right hip snapping syndrome, as well as remanded several other issues including a TDIU claim. The Veteran's representative withdrew his appeals regarding these issues prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety and a lumbar spine disorder. Service connection was granted for PTSD and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective July 2015. The decision finds that the Veteran experiences occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, decreased energy and motivation, passive suicidal thoughts, withdrawal from others, increased irritability, difficulty establishing and maintaining work and social relationships, and inability to adapt to stressful circumstances.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations for PTSD with major depressive disorder is remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and release forms for private hospital records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50% from November 22, 2017 to August 19, 2018 and denied any increase in rating for this period. The Veteran's condition deteriorated further from August 20, 2018 to October 13, 2018, but the Board did not grant a higher than 70% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including Major Depressive Disorder and Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depressed Mood, is granted. For the entire period on appeal, an initial evaluation of 10% for his left hip disability (limitation of flexion) is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and dysthymia, is at least as likely as not related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to service and the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression, has been granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression and anxiety, is granted service connection. The claim was reopened due to new evidence showing a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a confirmed stressor and current diagnosis. The claims for neck condition, right foot condition as secondary to neck condition, and depression as secondary to neck condition are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a psychiatric disorder, and an initial compensable rating for healed fracture of the right fifth metacarpal bone. The reasons provided included lack of evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms after service discharge.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 11, 2004 for the award of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder. The Veteran's claim arose on January 9, 2004, and he submitted a formal claim to reopen his previously denied claim on March 11, 2004.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD based on combat exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case and further examination.