Depression decisions — 2019

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The evidence submitted was not considered new and material.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle disability and depression, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 8, 2010. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to August 18, 2011 for the grant of service connection for GERD with insomnia is denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar arthralgia with lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder arthralgia, left shoulder arthralgia, left leg pain, and right leg pain are all pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure) remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for dizziness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) remain pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), claimed as a respiratory condition, remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected chronic hemorrhoids, finding that there is a link between the two conditions and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased rating for mechanical low back pain, service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, and TDIU due to unresolved legal or factual questions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is denied as there is no confirmed diagnosis of a current disability.

The Veteran's heart condition (syncope) is not service connected. The claims for right and left hip disabilities secondary to the back disability are granted, as well as the claim for depressive disorder due to service-connected migraines, knee disabilities, and a back disability. The rating for migraines remains at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or any other theory of service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to assess the current severity of his condition and determine if he should be granted a higher rating or TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hip condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete examinations and lack of etiological opinions.

The Board denied entitlement to agent fees for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from July 2, 2014 to May 26, 2015. The TDIU was granted due to service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence supports the conclusion that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the issues of depression, left lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine fusion with degenerative disc disorder (DDD), osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and a left shoulder rotator cuff injury. The Veteran is also required to be examined for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected PTSD and MDD is granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD and MDD is denied as it is earlier than April 30, 2014. An initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and MDD remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depressive disorder, began during his military service and is caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records from SSA and conducting a psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it arose from active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, hypertension, and recurrent headaches. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder.