Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU was granted from February 13, 2009 due to his service-connected lumbosacral strain and depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a service-connectable psychiatric disability related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to missing documents in his electronic claims file. The AOJ is required to locate and upload any missing documentation, including a March 2003 rating decision, VA Form 21-4138 received January 28, 2008, claim to reopen filed on February 26, 2010; a March 7, 1978 treatment record from Herbert Thomas Hospital; a VA Medical Center Shreveport treatment record from September 15, 2006; a letter of inquiry from Senator Landrieu, and a newspaper article entitled 'VA Vows to End Backlog.'

The Veteran's claims for skin cancer, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, vertigo, dementia, depression, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss has been granted with a 0% rating effective November 5, 2014.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, and the claim is also granted. The initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and an increased rating for major depressive disorder are remanded. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the other issues and will be addressed after they have been resolved.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for depressive disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD and MDD remains under review.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected Raynaud’s Syndrome. Service connection for Raynaud’s Syndrome prior to March 11, 2009, is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin condition, bilateral eye condition, left knee disability, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's MDD with PTSD features have been rated at 70 percent since September 30, 2016. From September 30, 2016 to March 14, 2017, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder was denied in a June 1998 Board decision. The RO granted the claim on September 24, 2009, and assigned an effective date of that day. The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, were granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to September 20, 2017. Since then, the rating has been denied for any higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities and depression, finding no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to active service. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was set at May 20, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive asthma, sarcoidosis, and major depressive disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to environmental irritants during service is conceded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, particularly from correctional facilities and inpatient treatment at a military hospital in Germany. The Veteran's mental health conditions are being investigated further.

The Board has granted service connection for liver cancer, which is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claim for depression remains pending and will be remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and notification for a claim based on military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD have been reopened, and both conditions are now considered for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.