Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The claim for a higher evaluation for lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Veteran's SLE was granted a 100% rating from February 16, 2010 to March 16, 2017.,A 70% rating for MDD was granted from April 12, 2010 to March 16, 2017.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and headache disorder are all found to be related to his service. The claims for glaucoma, heart disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service stressors of racial discrimination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records and for the Veteran to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), and eye disability including vision loss. The effective date issue is also remanded.

The Board denied the applications to reopen claims for service connection for chest pain with tachycardia, anxiety disorder (also claimed as depression with sleeping problems), and swollen legs. The application to reopen the claim for swollen legs is remanded.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was rated at 30% from June 15, 2010 to November 16, 2016 and at 70% beginning November 17, 2016. Effective November 17, 2016, the Veteran also received a TDIU due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as the Board found no evidence linking his psychiatric conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran and his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is denied as there is no established link between these conditions and service.

The Board has vacated its January 31, 2019 remand on the matter of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to lack of participation in VA's RAMP program. The case is now REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder with symptoms of PTSD and depression is granted as the evidence shows a current disability, in-service stressors, and a link between the two.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least March 6, 2012. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and GAD resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The Board found no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and compression fractures of L1 and L3, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 12, 2007. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions alone preclude the Veteran from obtaining such employment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% rating from May 25, 2010 to August 8, 2018. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran being in receipt of a schedular 100% rating for PTSD. Special Monthly Compensation at the housebound rate is granted from May 9, 2014.