Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received after final decisions. The Veteran's symptoms are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective from September 17, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for depression was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease was also denied, with no current diagnosis found during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is related to his in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and intermittent major depressive disorder is rated at 100% from March 12, 2019 to May 23, 2019 and from August 1, 2019 forward due to severe impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as an adjustment reaction with mixed anxiety and depression, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from July 25, 2005 through December 30, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for right knee condition, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder are remanded due to duty to assist errors prior to the February 2020 rating decision. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right inguinal hernia and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 6, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU due to issues with his right knee disabilities, PTSD, and service-connected conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant records and provide the Veteran with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings and a need for further clarification of diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a sleep study and an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected asthma and/or major depressive disorder aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and depression do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder symptoms have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, resulting in a denial of a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board found the preponderance of evidence supports a 50 percent rating for PTSD with depression.,Service connection for headaches and IBS are remanded as they may be related to service-connected conditions or due to exposure to environmental factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nerve pain and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and his service or service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development regarding his TDIU claim and initial rating for depressive disorder, NOS.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding service connection for various conditions, particularly hearing loss and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for Bell's palsy is denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have complete paralysis of his right seventh cranial nerve, which would warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder is denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 50% or higher rating under Diagnostic Code 9434.