Depression Board decisions

Throughout the rating period, a disability rating greater than 60 percent for infectious hepatitis and hepatitis C was denied. For the period from January 24, 2014 to July 5, 2017, a disability rating greater than 10 percent for depressive disorder was denied. For the period from July 6, 2017, a disability rating greater than 30 percent for depressive disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim of PTSD was reopened and granted service connection with an effective date of June 30, 2014. The claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and depression. The issue of service connection for alcoholism as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and procedural issues. The claims include service connection for various conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, sleep disorder, MDD, and GAD), hiatal hernia, GERD, PUD, chronic colitis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of both hips, degenerative joint disease of both knees, degenerative joint disease of both feet, conjunctivitis, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded his claim for left hip arthritis due to conflicting evidence regarding a nexus between his current disorder and any disease, injury, or event in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI, chronic headache disorder (migraine and tension headaches), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are all granted. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service in Iraq. The alcohol abuse disorder is not considered a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to a lack of recent psychiatric evaluations. The Veteran will need to undergo further examinations to determine his current disability status.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, was evaluated at a 50% rating prior to April 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 50%. The symptoms were considered to be primarily related to work and did not result in total occupational and social impairment or significant deficiencies in other areas.

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

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and insomnia) on secondary basis to service-connected fibromyalgia. Service connection is also granted for bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities (bursitis and limitation of abduction), and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and insomnia, is granted as incurred in service. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dysmenorrhea, and joint and abdomen pain are not granted due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder with sleep disturbance as secondary to his service-connected status post mild concussion, finding that there was no evidence linking the depression to the service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, as the evidence did not establish a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if he has any current psychiatric disability and whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression were granted initial ratings of 70 percent from April 28, 2018.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for duodenal ulcer, entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical disc disease, secondary service connection for headaches, and secondary service connection for depression. The Veteran's earlier effective date for TDIU was granted on September 8, 2008.