Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a left hip disorder, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a back disorder and nerve damage of the legs (sciatica) are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder has been granted. However, the compensable rating for hemorrhoids remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to MST is granted, with an initial evaluation of 50 percent for migraine headaches. The effective date for the award of service connection for a migraine headache disability is denied as there was no prior correspondence or intent to file a claim before June 30, 2017. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified anxiety and depressive disorder, prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 25, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has worsened, and a new examination is required to determine the current severity of his disability.

The appeals for service connection on various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to PTSD, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for payment of non-VA medical services provided on April 19, 2016 is denied because the care was not pre-approved and did not qualify as emergency treatment. The Board found that a prudent layperson would not have expected a delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, based on a diagnosis under the DSM-5, credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor (sexual assault), and medical evidence linking current symptoms to that stressor.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of evidence, including missing SSA records and VA examination opinions that did not address relevant lay and medical evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-service mental health records and a VA examination. The issues include determining service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and its etiology.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as MDD, is related to his military service. The claim for increased rating of cervical strain (neck disability) is granted with a current rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it is secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is granted, but the Board has remanded to determine if he has any other diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for depression disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his depression disorder or for service connection for his left knee, left ankle, and left foot disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected Bell's palsy.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic disorder is rated at 70 percent effective from November 8, 2013. This rating grants a higher disability evaluation for his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's MDD was rated at 30 percent prior to July 11, 2017 and has been increased to 50 percent since that date.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to her service-connected disabilities, and a rating of 30 percent for her neck disability from August 1, 2013 to July 19, 2019 is granted.