Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically persistent depressive disorder, is due to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and major depressive disorder with anxious distress are remanded due to incomplete records, including entrance and separation examinations. The VA will obtain these records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder; fibromyalgia; tinnitus; bilateral hearing loss; and eczema. The right knee and left knee disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar disability and psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the rating for major depressive disorder and the service connection claim for a right knee disorder, which was remanded by the Board. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions and awarded effective dates of July 31, 2014. The decision is based on newly associated STRs that were not previously considered.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed.,New evidence received since the October 2013 rating decision has reopened claims for service connection, but not all of these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his disability is at least in equipoise with this conclusion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ascites, depression associated with gynecomastia, and gynecomastia under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to their potential impact on the outcome of the liver disease claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression and low back disability, as well as the TDIU claim due to inadequate medical opinions addressing aggravation. The Veteran's disabilities are being evaluated again with a focus on whether they have been aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.,His initial rating for MDD remains denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating based on the severity of his symptoms.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and right testicle injury were both denied. The evidence did not support these claims.,The Veteran's appeal was also remanded for further consideration regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical injury, and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has ordered a VA examination to address the etiology of his psychiatric disorder. The issues of right shoulder, left shoulder, right arm, left arm, right hip, and left hip degenerative arthritis are also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder in early remission, is rated at a 70 percent disability level beginning January 22, 2016. The claim for TDIU has been withdrawn.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in previous decisions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The matter is now being reviewed on a direct basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder not otherwise specified and traumatic arthritis of the left wrist, have rendered him unemployable for periods on appeal. The Board has granted a TDIU from June 17, 2008 to December 2, 2012 and from February 1, 2014 to February 26, 2017. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate for these periods.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and personnel records, as well as his VA treatment records from Las Vegas. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

Prior to March 22, 2018, the Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent and denied a higher rating.,From March 22, 2018, the Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 70 percent and also denied a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, as well as her TDIU prior to December 21, 2013. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete evidence and unclear reasons provided by the Board.

Your claims of PTSD, anxiety, and depression have been dismissed as the Board lacks jurisdiction due to your opting into the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA) review system.