Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if his condition warrants an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted a 70 percent rating, subject to the rules and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, fibromyalgia, and CFS due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's sleep disturbances are found not to be a separate disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depression with PTSD as secondary to pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the claim arose on September 15, 2003 and the appropriate effective date is July 14, 2014.

The Board has ordered remand for the following claims: increased ratings for residuals of plantar wart removal left foot and sensory neuropathy of the left foot; increased rating for MDD prior to May 19, 2014; increased rating for MDD from May 19, 2014; TDIU prior to April 22, 2009; service connection for bilateral pes planus and any neurological disorder of the left foot other than sensory neuropathy. Remand is required due to outstanding records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder has been granted a 70% rating from August 6, 2013 and continuing thereafter. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU due to service-connected disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service combat experiences. The claim of adjustment disorder with depressed mood is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression. The Veteran's tension headaches were granted a rating of 50 percent effective February 22, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, post-operative residuals, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder were previously denied. New evidence has reopened these claims but the service connection is granted only for some of them (acquired psychiatric disorders). The remaining claims remain pending.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent from August 2, 2008 to July 24, 2015. A TDIU is granted for the same period due to his service-connected disabilities. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted during this time.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

Service connection for PTSD and MDD has been granted.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, lumbar disability, and right shoulder disability are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder have been granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective March 4, 2019.

The Veteran's depressive disorder rating is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of depressive disorder was denied as there is no evidence that she submitted a valid claim prior to May 5, 2015.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition, low back condition, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder are all granted. The rating for the psychiatric conditions is increased to 70 percent.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression), tinnitus, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, benign prostate hyperplasia, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU. The remand also includes a request for VA examination to determine if the Veteran has diagnoses of diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower limbs.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain and remanded the issue of an initial rating for major depressive disorder.