Depression decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously-denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability was dismissed.,The Veteran's requests to reopen his previously-denied claims for depression and PTSD were granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of right foot drop. The rating for residuals of transverse process fractures at T-12, L1, L3, and L4, with herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1, has been increased to 60 percent from December 1, 2014.

The Veteran's depression was granted an initial disability rating of 100 percent, effective September 2, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to August 9, 2016 and denied for a rating in excess of 70 percent from that date. The appeal was not about service connection but rather the effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right hand disorder is reopened, and the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance-related disorders) as secondary to a right hand disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided that an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and the Board has also remanded his initial rating claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for chronic disability of the right and left arm, back, tinnitus, and a chronic psychiatric disability claimed as depression and anxiety. The Veteran's current disabilities were not found to be related to her active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied in a May 2005 decision. New evidence has been submitted, reopening the claim and remanding it for further examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is restored, and a disability rating of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with depression to include unspecified depressive disorder is granted. However, the issues regarding an increased rating and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as secondary to his service-connected lumbar disc bulge, L5-S1.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because she did not timely file a notice of disagreement (NOD) with the October 2013 rating decision, which denied service connection for various conditions. The appeal is therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD was not found to meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent prior to June 30, 2015. The Board also denied entitlement to Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to that date.

The Board has denied an effective date prior to April 28, 2016 for the award of a 60 percent rating for left total knee arthroplasty. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to outstanding SSA records that need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar fusion, left leg radiculopathy, right leg radiculopathy, and depression due to a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran reported an in-service fall during basic training which he believes caused his current disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired mental health disability, including PTSD and MDD, should be remanded for further development to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, anxiety, and a sleep disorder have been denied as there is no evidence to support the contention that these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder. The decision finds that his preexisting conditions were aggravated by active duty service.