Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mild neurocognitive disorder with depressive disorder and right upper extremity weakness, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of August 23, 2018.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to May 27, 2015 and has been increased to 70 percent effective from that date. Bilateral hearing loss remains at a 30 percent rating since August 25, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an advisory opinion from an independent medical expert to assess the Veteran's ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current diagnosis and his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board has also remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,Service connection for PTSD and TBI are both denied. Service connection for vertigo has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder were granted a 50 percent evaluation effective January 28, 2020. The severity of the symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, major depression, and PTSD, were not incurred during service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's spouse has not been in need of regular aid and attendance due to her significant physical and mental health conditions, but she can still perform basic activities such as dressing and feeding herself. The Board found that the evidence does not establish a need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar I disorder and depression. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically a depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition is more likely related to post-service situational stressors rather than his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development and examination, including obtaining evidence of an in-service personal assault and determining the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to his in-service events. The reasonable doubt created by this relative equipoise in the evidence must be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis has been granted, with a 40% rating effective from December 23, 2010. The TDIU claim is also remanded.,A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted from December 23, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's preexisting PTSD was not aggravated during service and thus warranting direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD was incurred during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The lumbar spine disability and persistent depressive disorder prior to August 20, 2018 are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder was denied, and the TDIU claim was remanded due to lack of updated employment information and a need for a VA examination related to his left foot disability.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left elbow internal derangement status post internal fixation prior to August 7, 2012 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left elbow scar was also denied. However, the appellant's major depressive disorder with anxiety is granted a 50 percent rating, but not higher, prior to September 8, 2015, and denied a rating in excess of 70 percent from that date.