Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, liver disease (including cirrhosis of the liver and hepatoma), and depression, all found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder from March 3, 2016 to present has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 3, 2016 for the grant of service connection for depression is remanded due to unclear evidence regarding when entitlement arose.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder was improper due to conflicting evidence regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD with depressive disorder NOS and substance abuse in full remission prior to June 21, 2017 is denied. The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder NOS and substance abuse in full remission after June 21, 2017 is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the January 2017 Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether the pre-existing condition worsened during service or if it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the July 1993 rating decision is granted, with the effective date set at September 8, 1992.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current symptoms and his in-service stressor. The evidence did not support a link between the Veteran’s in-service incident and his current psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse from August 10, 2009 to the present. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating of 70 percent for depression prior to March 10, 2017 is granted. The rating remains at 30 percent after that date.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder, was denied. The Board found that the current psychiatric disorders were not caused by or related to active service. Additionally, the TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran is not service connected for any disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and erectile dysfunction, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is also found to be secondary to his now service-connected depression.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since August 22, 2014. Service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected depressive disorder is granted.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastritis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling an examination to determine the etiology of sleep apnea, and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, liver condition, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the claims on the merits.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, are found to be related to his service in Vietnam. Service connection is granted.