Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as the Veteran has not yet submitted a TDIU claim form.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cause of death and TDIU on accrued benefits purposes due to insufficient reasoning in previous decisions.

The Veteran's depression and TMJ disorder are now service-connected, with effective dates of April 6, 2010 for depression and March 1, 2012 for TMJ disorder. The Veteran is also eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the Veteran's contentions and the time since his last examination. The hearing loss claim is remanded for a new VA examination, while the other claims are remanded for obtaining complete VA treatment records from the early 1990s to May 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding requests and lack of proper communication regarding a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder, which the Board finds related to his in-service stressor event.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent since October 5, 2017, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety are being remanded due to the need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating prior to November 30, 2017 and remains at that level thereafter. A TDIU has been granted.

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

The Veteran is granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder, effective from March 12, 2009, to the present. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to February 23, 2017.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for PTSD. The Board granted service connection for Depression, finding that it is related to active duty service.

The claim for service connection is reopened, but the issues of low back disability, depression, and bilateral foot condition are remanded due to lack of VA treatment records and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, and substance abuse disorders as there is no evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board also found that secondary service connection for substance abuse disorders cannot be granted due to legal preclusion.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand requests and has therefore remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health records from DOC and Ruth Cooper Center. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.