Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted service connection. The claims for coronary artery disease and major depressive disorder are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from February 4, 2016, finding that he engaged in substantially gainful employment and did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of a bilateral ankle disability and anxiety and depression due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD with major depression, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with cannabis use disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

Service connection for residuals of a brain hemorrhage, to include as due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune is denied.,Service connection for depressive disorder secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury and migraine headache disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The Veteran's MDD rating has been increased to 70 percent, effective March 8, 2014.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for migraine headaches was granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and service connection for fibromyalgia is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective December 11, 2018.,Service connection for COPD and hypertension are both denied. The Veteran's MDD is found to aggravate his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which include right knee replacement with fusion, major depressive disorder, right hip, left hip, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for MDD with anxiety disorder was denied. Prior to January 23, 2019, the disability rating remained at 50 percent. Starting from January 23, 2019, it was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the issues of propriety of the rating reductions for left and right hip snapping syndrome, as well as remanded several other issues including a TDIU claim. The Veteran's representative withdrew his appeals regarding these issues prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety and a lumbar spine disorder. Service connection was granted for PTSD and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective July 2015. The decision finds that the Veteran experiences occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, decreased energy and motivation, passive suicidal thoughts, withdrawal from others, increased irritability, difficulty establishing and maintaining work and social relationships, and inability to adapt to stressful circumstances.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations for PTSD with major depressive disorder is remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and release forms for private hospital records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50% from November 22, 2017 to August 19, 2018 and denied any increase in rating for this period. The Veteran's condition deteriorated further from August 20, 2018 to October 13, 2018, but the Board did not grant a higher than 70% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including Major Depressive Disorder and Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depressed Mood, is granted. For the entire period on appeal, an initial evaluation of 10% for his left hip disability (limitation of flexion) is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and dysthymia, is at least as likely as not related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to service and the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression, has been granted.