Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication of issues related to service connection, including those involving residuals of hammertoes, low back disability, hypertension, heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, colon disability, and headache.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a higher rating for his left knee disability are being remanded. The reduction of the 10 percent rating for the residuals of left knee meniscectomy effective January 1, 2019 is restored.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding new and material evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's depressive disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative balance as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was incurred during his military service. The benefit-of-the-doubt rule is applied, and therefore, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and a depressive disorder, secondary to TBI, is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his psychiatric disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and headaches associated with TBI were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his unspecified depressive disorder was denied, and the claim for TDIU prior to March 27, 2013, was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, secondary to service-connected spinal stenosis with spondylolisthesis, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any of the previously diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to the service-connected spinal stenosis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI prior to February 15, 2021, and in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, MDD, and TBI thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied.

The appeals for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and for an effective date earlier than June 2, 2017, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder are dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with anxiety, depression, and insomnia, is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for hypertension and bilateral foot disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to an improper docketing in the AMA system and a need for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder. The examiner is asked to address the Veteran's contention that his psychiatric symptoms began during service and consider his claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for a clarification on whether his depressive disorder was superimposed upon his personality disorder during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, concluding that his current depression disability is not related to service and more likely due to situational stressors and declining physical health.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral Achilles' tendonitis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. An effective date of October 13, 2011, is granted for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ.