Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her right wrist condition is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as part of the rating question, due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,,

The Veteran's claim to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for depression and PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence received since the January 2013 and February 2016 rating decisions relates to unestablished facts and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, thus reopening the claim. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection remains remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge under other than honorable conditions for willful and persistent misconduct bars him from receiving service-connected compensation benefits. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the appellant's cervical spine spondylosis and his parachute jumps and airborne training during service, as well as an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any PTSD or other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability may be related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus remands for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present left knee disability. The Veteran is also remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his depressive disorder, back disability, radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was granted an initial disability rating of 50% prior to October 15, 2014.,Since October 15, 2014, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, is granted as secondary service connection. The Veteran's pulmonary disorder, to include mesothelioma, is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent, effective from November 5, 2014.,Service connection for headaches is granted as secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate development and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective date, increased rating, service connection, and compensation are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is rated at 100 percent since September 18, 2017 due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder alone rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder, lumbar strain with IVDS, right knee PFPS, tinnitus, and residuals of TBI, meet the threshold minimum rating requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board granted this claim as it is just as likely as not that these conditions preclude the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal issues, as well as psychiatric disorders. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to be afforded a VA examination and obtain new medical opinions regarding her claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and adjustment disorder due to MST. The remand also includes efforts to corroborate the Veteran's reports of sexual assault during service and attempts to obtain records from the Florida Blood Bank.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a stroke with residuals, major depressive disorder, headaches, and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not due to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's depression has been rated at 70 percent from June 8, 2016, and a rating of 100 percent is granted prior to December 20, 2021.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for depression.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and increased ratings. The main reasons are due to insufficient evidence and need for new medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and anxiety/depression. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, verification of in-service stressors, and additional medical opinions.