Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depression was granted. The claims for service connection for anemia, sickle cell anemia, and left hip disability were remanded.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals regarding earlier effective dates for the 100 percent rating for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating for the residual scar associated with CABG, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for persistent depressive disorder. The Board dismissed these issues as the Veteran requested to withdraw them.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The appeal is granted in part.

The Veteran's tension headaches are caused and aggravated by her service-connected anxiety disorder. The appeal for service connection for other conditions is still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine, anxiety and depression, arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, sinusitis with rhinitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder from May 1, 2017 was dismissed. The appeals for special monthly compensation based on housebound and aid and attendance were also dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a TDIU and a 70 percent rating for the period prior to April 24, 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, finding that new evidence supports a link between his active duty service and his current diagnosis of depression. The decision is based on the reopening of the previously denied claim due to new medical evidence.

The appeal of PTSD was dismissed. A 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder is granted, and the Veteran's sleep apnea and/or sleep disturbance, left knee condition, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and lumbar strain issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, as well as her TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete discussion of evidence and potential for service connection, as well as issues related to a possible military sexual trauma. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is being reviewed again with an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for depression secondary to his fracture of the right great toe and an increased rating for that condition have been dismissed due to a withdrawal request.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has not been shown to be productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas; nor has it been productive of total social and occupational impairment, thus the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for depressive disorder associated with systemic lupus is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The claims for neck, vertigo, hypertension, and gastroparesis have been denied. The requests to reopen previously denied claims for left hip and left knee disabilities are remanded. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

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The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability level, but no higher. The decision also notes that the Veteran has been granted service connection for his PTSD.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent effective from February 23, 2017. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date has been denied, and the TDIU claim prior to February 23, 2017 is moot due to the current 100% schedular evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder including depression and anxiety due to insufficient examination reports and lack of medical opinions on service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for VR&E benefits other than employment services and retroactive induction into a VR&E program to obtain a Master’s degree in Business Administration, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.