Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to January 23, 2008 and granted a 70 percent rating from that date. The appeal is for an increased rating.

An effective date of January 23, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Effective dates earlier than June 27, 2016 are denied for the grants of service connection for tension headaches, TBI, tinnitus, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.,The Veteran's December 31, 2015 claim referenced neurological damage which should have been recognized as claims including TBI and the nerve damage in his bilateral shoulders. However, no head injury nor left shoulder neurological damage was mentioned.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were diagnosed in July 2012, shortly before the claim was filed. The VA is required to obtain a medical opinion to determine if these conditions existed at the time of filing and are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional efforts should be made to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and whether they are related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is now rated at 70 percent, effective from April 29, 2014. The Board also granted an earlier effective date of April 29, 2014 for the service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional information regarding military sexual trauma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, to include as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being sent back for further development and an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip synovitis, meralgia paresthetica of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and chronic headaches have been granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and major depression have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected hypertension with nephrosclerosis was denied, but he was granted a higher rating (100%) for ischemic stroke. The other claims were either granted or remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected due to coal exposure during his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for a back disorder, separate ratings for agoraphobia, nervousness and depressive disorders, and higher ratings for the right arm and left shoulder scars, painful right arm scar, right wrist and hand arthrofibrosis, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal regarding TBI, depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee strain and tendonitis, and left knee strain and tendonitis has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and substance use disorder, was at least as likely as not aggravated by in-service trauma. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to its inextricability with his pending claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and diabetes mellitus. A new VA examination is required to determine if OSA was caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the claim of service connection for Depression. The COPD denial is based on a lack of evidence linking it to active service or service-connected sleep apnea with pulmonary sarcoidosis, while the depression issue requires further examination to reconcile previous diagnoses.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to October 21, 2016. The Board found that the symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for both the PTSD with major depressive disorder and GERD, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's lay statements indicate he had ongoing symptoms after service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period. The Board also granted a TDIU but noted that further clarification of employment history was needed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a vision disability is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the most recent Statements of the Case.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), bilateral median neuropathy, bilateral ulnar neuropathy, cervical spine disability, memory loss, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the most recent Statements of the Case.