Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is currently rated at 50% and has been since January 4, 2018. The Board found that the disability warranted a higher rating of 70%. The effective date remains unchanged.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD and granted TDIU benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and affording the Veteran VA examinations. The claim of service connection for hypertension and irregular heartbeats is being remanded as well as the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including verification of an in-service stressor involving a helicopter crash.

The Veteran's recurrent major depressive disorder with anxiety features is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran also contends for individual unemployability benefits due to his service-connected disability, but the Board found insufficient evidence to grant these benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is as likely as not related to her military sexual assault in 1959. The claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted after the April 2018 remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety and depression. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and lumbar spondylolysis, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Effective May 13, 2011, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened. The claims for increased ratings of the lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder have all been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and depressive disorder is granted. The Board found that the evidence supports a finding of service connection based on direct relationship to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, allergic rhinitis (claimed as severe allergies), and major depressive disorder. The issues of increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee meniscal tear are remanded. A TDIU claim is also before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, esophageal polyps, colon polyps, and stress and anxiety (claimed as MDD, persistent depressive disorder, PTSD) have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder including MDD, persistent depressive disorder, and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress is being remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his condition. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder rendered him unemployable as of November 1, 2012. The effective date for the TDIU is set at that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of September 18, 2006 for service connection of PTSD and major depressive disorder. The decision found that entitlement to benefits did not arise until December 7, 2006.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,Specifically, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and wrist disabilities, heart disability, severe headache disability, PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder are being reviewed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as anxiety and depression, is rated at 70 percent since May 9, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating or an earlier effective date has been denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including unspecified depression disorder and anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse, was found to be more severe than the current assigned rating of 50 percent prior to December 27, 2017. The Board granted a higher initial evaluation of 70 percent for this period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for HPV was dismissed. The rating for tendonitis of the bilateral wrists remains noncompensable. Other claims are remanded.