Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder and its relationship to service.

The Board has decided that a VA psychiatric examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches and major depressive disorder (MDD) were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent for migraines or a rating higher than 50 percent for MDD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence that any current mental health condition was caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his major depressive disorder is dismissed. The claim for service connection of sleep apnea, which he contends is secondary to his major depressive disorder, is denied.

The Board has determined that the earliest effective date for the award of service connection is February 26, 2017. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied as there was no formal or informal claim received prior to February 2017 and the May 2012 rating decision became final.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded several other issues including ratings for various disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather about reopening previously denied claims.

The claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the appeal is now remanded to further develop evidence related to the Veteran's in-service stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating, effective from the date of his claim. The TDIU issue is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder due to incomplete readjudication and missing VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and anxiety/depression have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now granted. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is found to be related to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on her symptoms. The issues of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been addressed with initial ratings granted.

Major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and migraine headaches have been granted service connection.,An increased rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. An effective date prior to September 8, 2013 for service connection for tinnitus is also denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder and psychophysiological pain disorder, has been rated at a 70 percent disability level from June 11, 2007 to May 5, 2013. The effective date for this rating is set as May 6, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there was no verified in-service stressor and the current depressive disorder is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development, including a VA mental health examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 100% effective from March 29, 2012. Prior to this date, the condition did not result in total occupational and social impairment.