Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hearing loss, collectively rated at 70 percent or more, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and the need for additional treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50 percent prior to June 20, 2016. The Board has now granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with depressive disorder effective June 20, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as the current evidence does not reflect the Veteran's current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to inadequate examination findings and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are pending further examination and development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 27, 2011 for the 100 percent evaluation of her depression and posttraumatic stress disorder is remanded due to conflicting employment history provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder has not caused total social and occupational impairment, so the claim for a higher rating is denied.

For the entire period on appeal, an increased evaluation of 70 percent for the Veteran’s service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for major depressive disorder is denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to the April 25, 2014 filing of his informal claim.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer and has also granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected gastric cancer.

The Veteran's depression with anxiety and insomnia was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to June 20, 2016. The disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's depression and trauma/stressor-related disorder are related to his in-service stressors. The Veteran does not meet all criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, but service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his low back disability, left hip radiculopathy, urinary frequency, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to inconsistencies in medical records and examination reports. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's lay statements about in-service incidents are also being considered.

The Veteran's multiple nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating, as none of them individually or in combination are rated at least 40% disabling. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his conditions prior to June 15, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection claims and rating issues. Specifically, the Veteran needs a new VA examination to address his claimed back disability and sleep disorder, as well as an initial rating for his right elbow conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for unspecified depressive disorder was denied, and the Board granted entitlement to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability as it was a freestanding claim and not subject to appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim was remanded for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left leg post-tourniquet syndrome.