Depression decisions — 2019

An effective date earlier than April 6, 2015 for the grant of service connection for persistent depressive disorder is denied.,A rating more than 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder from April 6, 2015 and continuing thereafter is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to find and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds it at least equipoise that he is unable to secure such employment.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for depressive disorder from August 9, 2016.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine continues to be rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psychiatric disabilities, personality disorder, bilateral foot disability, dental disability, and cerebrovascular accident have been granted. The claim for personality disorder is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The right knee disability and major depressive disorder claims were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied prior to July 9, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are due to military sexual trauma (MST) during her service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's testimony and April 2017 hearing during the evaluation for TDIU. The case is now being returned to the Board for further development.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome has been rated as 10 percent disabling since January 24, 2009. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition.,For the period from January 24, 2009 to September 19, 2016, the Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD and depression was rated as 10 percent disabling. For the period after September 19, 2016, it was rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board denied increased ratings for both conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective July 14, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine injury, low back injury, and migraine headaches have been granted. Service connection is established for these conditions.,Service connection for depressive disorder (claimed to include PTSD) has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking his current mental health conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent prior to March 5, 2018 and since then. The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the acquired psychiatric disability effective March 5, 2018.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability of depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted a 50% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for fibromyalgia and TDIU prior to March 17, 2017 is granted. The effective date of service connection for fibromyalgia remains August 14, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent has been denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU from April 14, 2016.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and requires a new one to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including alcohol use disorder and depressive disorder due to chronic pain, is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate for adjudication purposes due to a lack of discussion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to his service.