Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including vertigo, dizziness, back pain, hearing loss, PTSD, and MDD, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for OSA and remanded the claims of increased ratings for prostate cancer and depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no link between his current diagnosed condition and his period of service. The issue of a higher evaluation for degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder were granted. However, his increased rating claims for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy under Diagnostic Code 8520, and left lower extremity radiculopathy under Diagnostic Code 8520 were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment, so the claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The Veteran is also required to undergo new VA examinations for his acquired psychiatric disorders, hypertension, left knee arthritis, right shoulder injury, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral gout, finding that the evidence does not show a relationship to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted prior to December 21, 2010, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and PTSD, are related to his service. The presumption of soundness applies as there is no evidence showing a pre-existing condition in service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and PTSD, results in occupational and social impairment warranting a 70 percent rating rather than the maximum 100 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and his service connection for PTSD and depression. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on medical opinions and records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to incomplete records, including missing service personnel records and STRs. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and any relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is due to events that occurred in service and has been granted for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of his claim for service connection for skin disability. The remaining conditions have been granted based on their direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, which is now considered service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that the evidence is in at least relative equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred in or caused by service. The other issues of entitlement to service connection have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed.,New and material evidence was submitted to reopen claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The case will be reviewed with updated VA treatment records and further efforts to contact the Veteran.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the service-connected PTSD, finding that the severity of symptoms and functional impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for various conditions. The RO must obtain private treatment records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to address these issues.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The RO must develop evidence related to these claims and provide appropriate VA examinations.,The Veteran's left knee disabilities are also at issue. The RO must obtain private treatment records and schedule the Veteran for another VA examination to assess his current disability levels.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded as it involves a different legal theory than service connection claims.,The Veteran's left knee disabilities are also at issue. The RO must obtain private treatment records and schedule the Veteran for another VA examination to assess his current disability levels.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded as it involves a different legal theory than service connection claims.