Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for depression and TDIU are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the August 2018 rating decision. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his service-connected depression, but he contends that this should be higher.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hip and knee disabilities have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than May 22, 2012 for the grant of service connection for right and left hip disabilities and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches have also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus was denied, but the RO reopened and granted service connection. The initial rating assigned is 10 percent.,Service connection for DJD of thoracolumbar spine was granted with an initial rating of 10 percent. Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of thoracolumbar spine was not established as it was not shown in service or presumed due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, PTSD, and depressive disorder were all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, sleep disorder, back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral ankle disorders are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection due to a lack of definitive evidence regarding his psychiatric disability and its relationship to active service. The case will be returned for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran was 'insane' during his period of dishonorable service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, depressive disorder, hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disability, and left leg nerve impairment are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the L5-S1 facet was granted service connection as it began during active duty. Service connection for high cholesterol, back disability (other than osteoarthritis), bilateral leg pain, arthritis of joints (bilateral legs), gout, left ear hearing loss, heart condition, hypertension, prostate disability, and depression were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD and panic attacks. The Veteran's anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with alcohol dependency, secondary to his service-connected aortic insufficiency with heart aortic valve replacement, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU based on reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's depression has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board denied an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, Parkinson’s disease, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, depression) have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depression, but his appeal is dismissed as he did not file a timely NOD.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a psychiatric disorder due to the appellant's bilateral foot condition. The appeal was remanded for further development.,Service connection for the bilateral foot disability is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis but remanded the psychiatric claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence to support reopening. The claims for service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) are remanded due to the submission of new medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. The Veteran needs further examination and verification of stressor events.