Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for headaches has been granted. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis, right knee arthralgia, heart murmur, and bilateral ankle disorder as these issues were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety/depression) is remanded.

The Veteran's effective date for a 100% rating for major depressive disorder is set at January 20, 2011. This decision grants the claim based on evidence showing that symptoms warranting such a rating were present within a year prior to the filing of her increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been reopened, with the acquired psychiatric disorder now encompassing both PTSD and depressive disorder. Service connection has been granted.,Service connection was also granted for a respiratory disorder, but the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the pre-service status of the Veteran's allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that caused the condition.,Service connection for major depressive disorder secondary to service-connected tinnitus, lumbar strain, and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The effective date for this decision remains October 11, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's mental disorder with depression and anxiety was granted a 50 percent rating prior to October 5, 2017. The case is remanded for an addendum VA examination to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability including unspecified depressive disorder, which produced occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, has been granted a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to December 8, 2009; 70 percent from December 8, 2009 to September 12, 2010; and 50 percent from September 13, 2010 to June 13, 2013. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains in appellate status as the RO has not assigned the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for major depressive disorder and sinusitis due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection and rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of bilateral knee disability, residuals of carbon monoxide poisoning, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The issues include right ear hearing loss, traumatic brain injury residuals, psychiatric disorders, lumbosacral strain, trochanteric bursitis, left ear hearing loss, deviated nasal septum, individual unemployability, and need for aid and attendance.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include polysubstance dependence with mood disorder (claimed major depressive disorder), and denied the claim due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and MDD. The case needs further development including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder as there was no credible evidence supporting the occurrence of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), a lumbar spine disability, and a left lower extremity neurological disability. Service connection for headaches is also granted. However, the claim of service connection for a gallbladder disability remains denied.