Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress have been rated at 70 percent, effective from August 10, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU beginning on July 10, 2019.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, were not found to be related to her military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for myopia and astigmatism, thoracolumbar spine disorder, acquired mental disorders (including PTSD), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability (depression and anxiety) and right knee disability have been granted service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records, particularly regarding the Veteran's in-service burn incident and its impact on his current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic joint pain, ear disorder (other than tinnitus), hypercholesterolemia, or skin disorder. The claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions during the pendency of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's daughter, S.P., was permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years due to mental and physical defects. The Board granted her recognition as a helpless child for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 70 percent disability rating for depression should be September 16, 2014. The Veteran's claim was not an initial increase in rating but rather a new non-initial increased disability rating claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing or following substantial gainful employment, and the Board finds she is not unemployable due to her service-connected conditions.

Effective September 1, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent disabling. The TDIU claim remains pending but granted as of July 2, 2013.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of his psychiatric disability was denied. A separate evaluation for posttraumatic tension headaches was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression were granted a 70% rating as of December 13, 2016. A TDIU was also granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy lower extremities disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with MDD was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to service connection before July 26, 2013.

The Veteran's son, J.L., was rendered incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to a combination of conditions including an intrauterine stroke and Asperger’s syndrome. The Board found that his condition has not improved since childhood.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric condition and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's in-service stressors for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The VA will attempt to verify these stressors through additional requests, including to the JSRRC.