Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bursitis, a respiratory disorder (claimed as breathing difficulty), and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II has also been remanded due to the need for additional factual development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depression has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder has been reopened and is granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric condition, as well as the current severity of his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of definitive evidence linking his current conditions to service. The case will be reviewed with a new examination using DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation. The psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded as there are inconsistencies in the medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, which reflects the level of impairment caused by his symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and suicidal ideation. The rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected other specified trauma and stress related disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran has these conditions as a result of his military service in Iraq, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder NOS have been rated at 70 percent since February 12, 2018. The appeal is granted for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depression, is granted. The case is remanded to determine the specific stressor events in service that may support his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for major depression and dysthymic disorder on a secondary basis to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, due to inadequate medical opinions in a prior remand, the case must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder prior to March 16, 2010 and from that date onwards was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the maximum available rating. The Board has granted this rating and denied entitlement to a TDIU.

The claim of service connection for cause of death is reopened, but the Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and potential proximate causation.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 11, 2015 for service connection and a compensable rating for his depressive disorder are remanded. The right hip and knee disability secondary to service-connected conditions are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, sinusitis, GERD with irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine headaches were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied. The Board found that his depression did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not cause deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the claims for GERD evaluation and TDIU have been remanded.