Depression decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and depression, which are secondary to a seizure disorder. The claims will be reconsidered after resolving the pending claim for service connection for a seizure disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are rated at 70 percent from July 1, 2015. The Board has granted a higher rating based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.,The issue of an effective date earlier than May 27, 2015 for the grant of a 30 percent rating for depression has been withdrawn by her representative.,The Veteran’s increased ratings for depression and bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's increased ratings for arthropathy right ankle due to osteochondritis dissecans of the talar dome status post ankle surgeries and arthropathy left ankle due to osteochondritis dissecans of the talar dome status post ankle surgeries are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted. The effective dates for these conditions remain at the date of receipt of the claim to reopen following the final denial in February 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus, depression prior to July 16, 2014 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, and bilateral pes planus claims were denied. The effective date for service connection for depression was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cold injury residuals of the left and right feet was denied. The Veteran also had his claim for service connection for major depressive disorder reopened, granted, and assigned to a separate condition.,PTSD was denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and PTSD, but granted the claim for an acquired psychological disorder (to include PTSD and major depressive disorder). The decision also noted that the Veteran is not entitled to benefits for his dishonorable period of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, are related to her in-service military sexual trauma (MST), and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of major depressive disorder and prostatitis has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has expanded the psychiatric issue to include major depression. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the alleged in-service stressor of personal assault.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding increased disability ratings and service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, scar associated with CABG, unspecified depressive disorder, and cataracts. The Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The appeal concerning service connection for headaches has been dismissed as moot because the benefit sought has already been granted.,The Veteran’s claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD with depression, is remanded. The examiner should determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or related to his active duty service and whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with depression.,The Veteran’s claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depression is remanded. The matter of TDIU (total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability) is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran’s reported stressors and obtain an additional medical opinion to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge under other than honorable conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and schedule a VA examination to determine if the appellant was insane.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and further development regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is warranted, and to consider whether the Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities warrants a TDIU prior to May 29, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is not etiologically related to a verified in-service stressor, and the claim for service connection is denied. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder is remanded due to lack of recent examination.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder and other specified depressive disorder now with major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (psychiatric disorder) have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear NOD and incomplete records. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining private medical records, determining whether ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA periods affect service connection, and scheduling VA examinations.