Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye retinal hole with pain and loss of vision to the extent of blindness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and unspecified anxiety disorder) as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will request a new examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and awarded a TDIU effective from April 1, 2011. The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected back and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder secondary to his service-connected left shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the currently assigned 70 percent rating for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and mood/depressive disorder are etiologically related to his active service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, major depressive disorder with symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, bipolar disorder, ADHD), back disorders (including arthritis), left knee disorders (including arthritis), right knee disorders (including arthritis), migraines, and tinnitus have all been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limitation of motion. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any other claimed conditions.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and alcohol use disorder), sleep apnea, low back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The right foot pes planus is denied for an earlier effective date, but a rating of 20 percent is granted from June 18, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for residuals of burns to the face, hands, arms, and chest, as well as depression secondary to those conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, back disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, shoulder and hip disabilities, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were not shown as chronic in service or related to a service-connected disability. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding these conditions being related to his military service to be speculative.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were first diagnosed 30 years after separation from service and are not considered to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling for the entire appeal period, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected depression associated with epiphysiodesis of the left femur is granted a 70 percent rating from June 17, 2014. The claim for more than a 70 percent rating for psychiatric disability prior to that date is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder, is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability was related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder with other specified trauma, lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, are being remanded for further development due to new evidence added to her claims file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted to that extent.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as other psychiatric disorders. The remand includes addressing previous diagnoses and stressors from service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to his bilateral knee disabilities is granted.