Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's depression is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for a throat disorder was dismissed as it is considered a symptom of the Veteran's service-connected GERD.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective May 26, 2011, based on the combined effects of service-connected disabilities rendering the Veteran incapable of substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, anxiety disorder with agoraphobia, and PTSD have resulted in a 70 percent disability rating for depression from October 7, 2009. The decision also granted TDIU effective October 7, 2009.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, stimulant use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and substance-induced depressive disorder with anxious distress. The issue of dental condition was dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a cardiovascular disability (claimed as heart disease) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its prior remand directives and requires further development to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his deployment to Southwest Asia.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease due to new and material evidence, but has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition and depression due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran was struck by a model airplane/drone in his mid-back during service.

The Board has determined that the remand is necessary due to inadequate opinions provided by the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically his social and occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and anxiety disorder, as well as his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA is required to obtain updated treatment records, verify the in-service stressor, and provide a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and OSA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression.

The Veteran's MDD is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for service connection of MDD is granted. The Veteran's back disability (claimed as lumbar radiculopathy) is also granted due to its being related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, as well as depression. The claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus (as due to service-connected disabilities), and bilateral eye disability are remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The examiner must address these issues and provide a rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service records do not provide sufficient evidence to support his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, other than PTSD, dry eye syndrome secondary to diabetes mellitus, and major depressive and anxiety disorders are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded an increased rating for his psychiatric conditions. However, the ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities remain at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left ankle degenerative arthritis, bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, and right ankle strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The rating reduction from 70% to 50% for PTSD with depression effective January 1, 2019 was improper. The Veteran's PTSD has not improved enough to warrant a lower rating. The case is remanded for further examination and readjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.