Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's benign chronic leukocytosis is currently rated as noncompensable and not entitled to a higher rating.,From June 7, 2011, the Veteran's muscle contraction type headaches with migraine features are rated at 50 percent. The Veteran has been granted the maximum possible schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 for this condition.,The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated as 70 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress features is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of claim. Service connection for fibromyalgia, CFS, hypertension, IBS, and a headache disorder are granted. The Veteran also receives a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for major depression has been granted at a 70 percent level. The appeal regarding TDIU is being remanded due to incomplete employment history information.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, should be remanded due to insufficient information provided by the Veteran regarding a reported in-service stressor. The VA needs to attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s claimed stressor involving a fellow Marine who was injured during boot camp at Parris Island.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (major depressive disorder) have been granted. The right shoulder disability claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of an in-service stressor related to military sexual trauma (MST) and for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including near-continuous depression, suicidal ideation, intermittent neglect of personal hygiene, flattened affect, abnormal speech patterns, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish or maintain effective relationships. The Board found a 70 percent disability rating since September 5, 2017, adequately reflects the Veteran's condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), secondary to his service-connected Parkinson’s disease. The decision is based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine.

The Veteran's claims for depression, vertigo, and headaches have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's son, M.J., is being remanded for further examination and evaluation to determine if he was permanently incapable of self-support as of his 18th birthday due to a mental or physical disability.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for PTSD and MDD. The Veteran's in-service stressors need to be verified, and a new VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, but remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, particularly major depression with cognitive disorder. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to a lack of recent medical records and for an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder have been dismissed due to the death of the Appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted. Additionally, the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD, alcohol abuse, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder is granted due to the presence of a current diagnosis based on in-service stressors.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent ratings for MDD, TBI residuals, and chronic posttraumatic headaches were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating than the assigned levels.