Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and MDD was reopened due to new evidence, and the Board has now granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent, and her unspecified depressive disorder remains at a 30 percent rating. The appeal for TDIU is remanded.

Service connection granted for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and recurrent headaches.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity and low back conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for bilateral knee pain, but denied for other conditions including headache, depression, sciatic radiculopathy, left and right elbow strain, left and right wrist strain, right ankle strain, and hypertension.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to November 3, 2016 and granted a 100 percent rating from that date. The issue of service connection for a right knee disability secondary to the left knee chondromalacia patella is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for depression is granted, with a 70% evaluation effective from February 5, 2016. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's PTSD symptoms but does not grant service connection.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to PTSD or other service-connected condition, as there was no link between the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and his current psychiatric disabilities. The Appellant's and friend's statements were not competent to state that the Veteran’s psychiatric disorders were caused by an event in service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for fatigue, memory loss, anxiety, and depression due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's exposure is presumed based on his service at the base.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion to address the nature and etiology of his current diagnoses.

The veteran's service is not considered qualifying due to the short duration and lack of a service-connected disability at discharge. Therefore, he does not meet the eligibility criteria for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective November 18, 2008. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The appeals concerning the claims of residuals of a left eye injury, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus denies an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic pulmonary condition.,The Veteran's service-connected depression is granted as related to his service-connected disabilities.,An earlier effective date of June 4, 2013 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An earlier effective date of November 23, 2009 for the grant of service connection for a chronic pulmonary condition with restrictive and obstructive lung disease is granted.,The Veteran's claim for higher disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's potential eligibility under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims and will be addressed on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for depression with anxiety, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it is related to service.

The Board has ordered a new VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his April 2012 VA medical care, specifically the treatment for knee replacement surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma and secondary service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to her service-connected ankylosing spondylitis and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The Board has found that the VA examinations conducted in March 2018 did not adequately address functional loss due to flare-ups, as required by a recent Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) order.,The Veteran is also seeking an earlier effective date for her service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for depression and PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a lack of in-patient treatment records from Germany. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional development.