Depression Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for the period from October 29, 2012, through July 4, 2017. Additionally, he is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate during this same period.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for both conditions.,The Veteran's depression and eye condition (claimed as vision loss) are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back disability, hypothyroidism, cataracts of the eyes, hypertension, bilateral eye diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and depression, as they were not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities due to lack of a current diagnosis for PTSD and failure to cooperate with VA examination requests.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, OCD, ADHD, intellectual disability, and narcissistic personality disorder due to a lack of VA examination and treatment records. The Veteran is presumed to have been in sound health at entry into service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a 100 percent rating, and thus her claim for a higher evaluation was denied. The TDIU claim was granted.

The claim for service connection for depression was denied in a previous decision. The Veteran's new evidence raises the possibility of her current psychiatric disability being related to her active service, and she is ordered to be examined by VA to determine if this is true.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or pre-existed service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling from April 12, 2021. The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and a need for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic pain, osteoporosis, and depression as secondary to a back disability due to further development being necessary.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is denied as there is no credible evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are all granted service connection. The claims were initially denied in a November 2010 rating decision but have been reconsidered due to additional evidence obtained after that decision.

The Veteran meets the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU, and the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his educational and occupational background as a result of his service-connected disability. The Board has accordingly recharacterized the psychiatric claim as reflected on the title page.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure.

Service connection is granted for cervical strain, to include cervical disc herniation.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety).,Temporary total evaluation (TTE) for convalescence following October 27, 2017, neck surgery is remanded.,Service connection is remanded for a scar, status post appendectomy.,Service connection is also remanded for migraines, to include as secondary to service-connected neck condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions during and after service, including his incarceration. The Veteran is required to provide information about any arrests or incarcerations from prior to service and into the present day.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD with depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, and insomnia is denied. Service connection for left shoulder bursitis is granted. The issue of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.