Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are rated at 70 percent, effective April 1, 2013. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee replacement disability is being remanded due to the RO not issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) for this issue, and because the maximum schedular rating has been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that his fear of terrorist attack in service is a credible stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective April 17, 2007. A TDIU is granted from April 17, 2007 to June 22, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hepatitis C, depression as secondary to hepatitis C, and cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to hepatitis C due to lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the service connection claim. The Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to in-service factors such as vaccinations with jet gun injections or exposure to other individuals' blood.

The Board has remanded the issues of rating higher than 70 percent for anxiety disorder, effective date for tinnitus service connection, and TDIU. The Veteran's psychiatric condition is currently rated at 70 percent disabling. An effective date of November 2, 2016, but not earlier, was granted for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claim for increased rating of major depression with anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, finding that his symptoms are related to events during active service.

The Veteran's marginal employment and the severity of his nonservice-connected disabilities were not fully evaluated, necessitating further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for urinary incontinence and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that the urinary incontinence was related to his service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and TBI is rated at 70 percent effective October 16, 2015. The rating was increased to 70 percent from January 31, 2016.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and effective date claims related to TBI residuals, headache disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD with depressive disorder, and left eyebrow scar residuals. The issues of increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD with depressive disorder; and entitlement to total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will need to obtain an addendum VA examination/medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service or his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease, erectile dysfunction (claimed as penile condition), depressive disorder secondary to PTSD, and sleep disturbances are all granted. Anxiety is denied due to being a symptom of other conditions. The Veteran also receives an initial evaluation of 70% for his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, due to insufficient credible evidence establishing a claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating evaluations. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of bilateral hearing loss, gastric cancer, arrhythmia, high cholesterol, liver cancer, chloracne, and a psychiatric disorder (depression) are being addressed again.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been denied. His TDIU claim is granted, and his service connection claim for colon cancer due to herbicide exposure is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.