Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-V criteria and concluded that his depression is less likely related to service. For TDIU, as the Veteran is not service-connected for any disabilities, he does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

Service connection is granted for a back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, depression, and headaches secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.,An effective date prior to July 6, 2015, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and several other musculoskeletal issues. The decision also includes remands for tinnitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine with mild abnormal thoracic curvature was reduced from 20% to 10%, effective May 1, 2013. The reduction is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased ratings for cervical spine disability, major depressive disorder (MDD), post concussive headaches, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The claims for respiratory disorder (claimed as sinusitis) and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, has been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. However, further development is needed as a supplemental VA opinion is required regarding whether his current mood disorder due to general medical condition is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so he is not entitled to a higher rating than the current 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of left lower extremity femoral neuropathy was denied, but he was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to additional relevant VA treatment records being added to her claims file.

The Board has determined that the claim of an earlier effective date for service connection for depression is dismissed. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of a stressor and that current pathology is unrelated to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and MDD were rated at a 70 percent for the period prior to November 5, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine if he has PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has restored service connection for depressive disorder with poly-substance dependence, previously diagnosed as major depression with anxiety and poly-substance dependence in remission, finding the severance was improper due to conflicting evidence regarding its relation to service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD with MDD, anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder, was not shown to be productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment from February 20, 2009 to September 19, 2012. The Board found the Veteran's symptoms reflected no more than moderately severe difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's TBI is related to service or secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, has been reopened. The claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, sciatica, erectile dysfunction, special monthly compensation based on loss of use, and TDIU are also remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, but his claim for a chronic respiratory disorder was denied. The decision is mixed as one issue was granted and the other was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a head injury, including TBI residuals, and for depression and PTSD. The claims are based on direct evidence rather than presumptions or secondary conditions.