Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, finding that it did not preexist his active military service and was not incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the remaining issues due to new evidence. The Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder (claimed as PTSD and psychotic disorder) was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate a disability manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. His claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including chest pain, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disorder, acne, facial scars, flatfoot, hypertension, memory loss, bipolar disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder), and migraines. The remand requires obtaining relevant VA treatment records, conducting additional examinations to determine the etiology of diagnosed conditions, and scheduling a new examination for migraines.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) have not been established.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and GERD were denied service connection as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent, but a higher 70 percent rating is granted.,The Veteran’s diabetic retinopathy was rated at 10 percent, and the maximum 70 percent rating for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depression was initially rated at 50 percent prior to May 14, 2013. From that date, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU prior to April 4, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and TBI service connection claims are granted. The Veteran's headaches claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty in the diagnosis of the Veteran's mental disorders and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of certain VA treatment records and an incomplete etiology opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, unspecified anxiety, and depression is now pending again.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder. The VA examiner did not provide a clear diagnosis or nexus opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other specified depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,The Veteran has been employed as a town mayor in an unpaid position, indicating that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The rating for PTSD was also denied, as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment. However, a TDIU was granted effective July 29, 2019.

The Veteran's major depression (claimed as PTSD) was not productive of total occupational and social impairment, but his overall disability picture warranted a 70 percent evaluation. The appeal for higher evaluations on the basis of substitution is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder, Diabetes Mellitus and Coronary Artery Disease are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure. Sickle Cell Trait is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current psychiatric disability is related to service.,Service connection was also granted for depression. The March 2019 VA examination report provided a competent and credible medical nexus between the Veteran’s current depressive disorder and his in-service head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU has been dismissed as he is already receiving the maximum combined rating for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder was not manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to December 18, 2019.