Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI with migraine headaches and depression have been granted.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his claim of service connection for prostate cancer has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and has assigned a 20% rating effective July 6, 2018 for his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as there is no justiciable case or controversy regarding these matters.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective April 3, 2017. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding the severity of his symptoms and granted a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,Seizure disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher than 40 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a larynx condition and an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of a larynx condition related to service, and that the Veteran’s major depressive disorder did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating higher than 10 percent for left thumb sprain and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 26, 2015, for the grant of a 50 percent rating for his psychiatric disorder is denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence showing worsening of symptoms within one year prior to the August 26, 2015, increased rating claim.,The Veteran's service connection claims for right thumb disability and headaches are granted.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, as well as a heart condition due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's depression is also not service connected. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, specifically anti-social depressive disorder. The VA must obtain a medical opinion and any SSA records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence, but has remanded the case for further development regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

Service connection for COPD is granted. An increased rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, Adjustment disorder with depressed mood, Depressive disorder, and Anxiety as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including obtaining additional VA or private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% effective from March 29, 2019. The rating was granted as the condition exhibited occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 24, 2003 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The issue of whether the effective date was CUE is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor for PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD and depression, but there is no independent evidence corroborating his statement as to the occurrence of his claimed stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD disability was restored to a 50% rating, and the effective date for this restoration is May 1, 2019. The claim for an earlier effective date for the reduction of the PTSD rating from 50% to 30% is dismissed.

Service connection for anxiety disorder and depression is denied.,An initial increased rating of 10 percent for hepatitis C is granted before February 21, 2013. A higher rating is not warranted during this period.,Since January 13, 2014, a 60 percent rating for hepatitis C is granted. The Veteran's symptoms have resulted in substantial weight loss and hepatomegaly.