Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, neuropathy, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also remanded claims for a back disability, neck disability, colonic polyps, cellulitis of right forearm.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted with an initial rating of 70 percent from May 26, 2007 to August 21, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including determining if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and his acquired psychiatric disorders. The VA will seek additional information from federal records repositories, obtain updated treatment records, and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied. Service connection for ischemic heart disease and depressive disorder were granted with effective dates of June 1, 2006, and January 4, 2018 respectively. The Veteran received a 60% rating for ischemic heart disease before February 22, 2013, and a higher rating was denied after that date. A 70% rating was granted for depressive disorder starting from January 4, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 27, 2011, and an effective date for the TDIU award was granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was not shown to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so his initial rating of 30 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective July 6, 2001. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted and denied the claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of January 30, 2007, but not earlier, for service connection for a right knee disability has been granted. The Board also remanded several other issues related to the Veteran's claims including service connection for psychiatric disabilities and rating for his knees.

The Veteran's 70% rating for depressive disorder was restored to April 1, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claim for social anxiety disorder with depression is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any radiculopathy of the upper extremities and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar radiculopathy. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to inadequate VA examinations and missing private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection for multiple sclerosis is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her depressive disorder and cannabis abuse is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric conditions, as well as the current severity of his PFB.