Depression decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder. The Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her service-connected persistent depressive disorder and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VCAA notice and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is being remanded for further evaluation and rating consideration.

The Board has remanded the issues of an initial disability rating higher than 30 percent for bilateral foot disorder, a lumbar spine disability, and chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression due to lack of representation and need for additional development.

The Veteran's depression and tension headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The left shoulder disability is denied, and the cervical spine disability is remanded for further review.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for MDD and a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inconsistencies in his service record and allegations of stressor events. The psychiatric disability claim is being recharacterized to include any diagnosed psychiatric condition, while the tinnitus claim requires additional evidence regarding noise exposure and a medical opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action regarding his TDIU rating prior to January 26, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and will consider all issues, including a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, and a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 27, 2018 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and polysubstance dependence in sustained full remission was denied as the increase began over a year prior to the date of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including coronary artery disease/congestive heart failure, nasopharyngeal cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, eye disability, balance/vestibular disorder, sinusitis, and depressive disorder. The case will be returned after further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted on an extraschedular basis.,For the period from March 7, 2012, to November 30, 2017, his acquired psychiatric disability was evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board found that this level of impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating (such as 70% or 100%) and thus denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's arthritis conditions were remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether they are service-connected.,Service connection was granted for headaches secondary to tinnitus.,Other claims, including those related to sleep disability, hypertension, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, special monthly compensation, and TDIU, were also remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. However, the claims for both PTSD and a sleep disorder were denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and tension headache disability are all found to be due to his service-connected migratory polyarthralgia.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hip disability, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, diabetes mellitus type II, and psychiatric disabilities. The effective date for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective September 14, 2011. For the period prior to January 23, 2015, her lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent and increased to 20 percent effective January 23, 2015.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service stressors. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and his service. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric condition is related to his military service.