Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for restoring his disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU, has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is now pending again with further development required.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected somatic symptom disorder with depression is rated at 70 percent, but the appeal for a higher rating is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected psychiatric disorders is granted from December 2, 2013 to January 3, 2014.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection of PTSD was denied in November 2006. The claim was reopened and denied again in September 2013, but the Veteran did not appeal either decision. The Board found that the Veteran abandoned his April 2006 claim due to his failure to provide a reliable address to VA. Therefore, the effective date for the grant of service connection is October 7, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, specifically Major Depressive Disorder. The case is now pending for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need additional opinions regarding whether the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to August 8, 2018, that was related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety with symptoms of PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that it is caused by or related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Creutzfeld-Jacob disease was denied. The right ankle disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent, but the left foot and psychiatric disabilities are remanded due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking them to service.

The Board found the reduction in disability rating for left shoulder rotator cuff, left biceps tendon tear was improper and restored the previous 30 percent rating. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his lumbar spine DDD, major depressive disorder, hypertension, diabetes, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, and left shoulder rotator cuff tear are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and diabetes mellitus have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine.,For GERD, an initial disability rating of 10 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD, which is linked to his in-service stressor (personal assault). Service connection is also granted for migraines as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss aggravated his depression, leading to his death by suicide.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 1, 2016, finding that he was engaged in substantially gainful employment at a paper mill until then.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to errors in previous examinations and diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened and granted. Service connection is established for major depressive disorder, hypertension secondary to major depressive disorder, and psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder).