Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 17, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, was caused by his service-connected disabilities (prostate and lung cancer), thus granting the claim for service connection.

Your claim of service connection for PTSD and MDD has been fully granted by a rating decision in October 2020, so your appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's adult daughter, M.C., is seeking recognition as the 'helpless child' due to her permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching age 18. The Board has ordered further action including obtaining private treatment records and a VA medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a heat injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), and migraine headaches. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred or aggravated during active service.,Service connection for left-testicular mass was also denied as there is no evidence of treatment after service and no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The effective date of a higher evaluation for urethral stricture is also being remanded.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse, finding that the current degree of occupational and social impairment matches a 70 percent disability rating but does not warrant total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for increased disability evaluations for unspecified depressive disorder and a low back disability, as well as the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, are being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, so the issue is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities. The low back condition is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is remanded due to errors in the initial decision, including failure to verify a reported stressor related to a storm during service. An addendum opinion is needed to address additional stressors and whether the Veteran’s conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, is rated at 100 percent disabling since April 28, 2010. The appeal for a TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the grant of a higher rating.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for PTSD was denied, and he was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The evidence showed significant impairment in work due to PTSD symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for these conditions. The Board denied a higher rating as their symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with the remand instructions and an incomplete medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depression. The examiner was instructed to consider the appellant's observations of the Veteran’s changes after active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression with PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is being remanded due to the need for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for asthma and a 10 percent rating for asthma from April 25, 2019. The case is remanded for further action on the issue of nonservice-connected pension.