Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and depression was granted effective September 17, 2010. Prior to this date, his claims were denied multiple times.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after separation from service.,Service connection could not be established because the Veteran did not have a continuous diagnosis of these conditions since service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including right shoulder injury, low back injury/surgery, eye disabilities, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, lumps on back of right shoulder, residuals of sores on back of head, chloracne, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and depression. The remand includes obtaining VA treatment records from the San Antonio VAMC, National Guard or Reserve service records, and clarifying private audiological evaluation results.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD with depression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, initial compensable rating for right hand status post fracture fifth metacarpal with right hand status partial fusion, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate examination reports and inconsistencies in the provided medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim of service connection for a disability manifested by loss of balance was denied in July 2014. The Board has now reopened this claim and remanded it due to new evidence indicating the Veteran experienced balance problems during active duty. For her pervasive depressive disorder, the Board found that she does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 50 percent.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder (previously diagnosed as dysthymia) is currently rated at 50 percent, but with a deduction of 10 percent for aggravation. The Board has requested additional evidence from Dr. Anne Heubner and will remand the case to consider this new information.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and cannabis use disorder. The Board also found that he meets the criteria for major depressive disorder secondary to PTSD. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including bilateral parenchymal fibrosis and pleural plaque, depression, erectile dysfunction, skeletal arthritis, nerve damage of the upper and lower extremities, are denied. The Board finds that while there is evidence of asbestos exposure during service, the lung disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service due to post-service industrial exposure.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features is related to his military service and has been granted as a direct service connection. The TDIU claim and the right middle finger evaluation are also remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for major depressive disorder was denied prior to May 7, 2010. From that date onwards, a 70% rating was granted. The claim of TDIU and hypertension were also granted effective from May 7, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in its previous decision regarding an initial rating for PTSD with a major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim is now being sent back for further development and evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for lumbar degenerative disk disease and depression due to new and material evidence. The claim is granted as there is current disability, in-service incurrence, and a nexus between the disabilities.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent, which is the highest rating available under VA regulations. The claim for increased ratings of unspecified depressive disorder and TMJD remains pending.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board is remanding this issue for further development.,Service connection for IHD was denied as there is no evidence that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to the need for a new VA examination to assess cognitive impairment and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-V or any link between his military service and his diagnosed depression.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records from prior to February 2013 and April 2018, as well as any SSA disability records and Walter Reed Army Medical Center records related to his heart failure. The Veteran will also be afforded a VA examination for his hypertension claim.