Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder was granted as it is supported by medical evidence and the examiner's opinion.,The claim for lower back condition (claimed as a thoracic back condition) was denied due to lack of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for Persistent Depressive Disorder and denied the claims for PTSD, sleep impairment, lower back disability, right leg disability, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to unclear pre-service status of his psychiatric disorders and sleep disorder, as well as the need for additional development regarding SSA disability benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's in-service stressors and post-service mental health issues. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file, and a VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims of hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), and GERD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and insomnia disorder, is granted service connection. However, his right knee, left knee, and left hip disabilities are denied as secondary to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has experience in non-physical positions and is capable of performing sedentary work.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues with the rating assigned for fibromyalgia and TDIU prior to November 30, 2015. The issue of increased evaluation for MDD from May 3, 2005, to November 30, 2015, remains on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at a 70 percent rating prior to July 5, 2018. The Board found that the symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity due to flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty in understanding complex commands, impairment of short and long term memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that low testosterone is not a compensable disability, the anxiety disorder does not meet criteria for a higher rating, the back disability did not warrant an increase to 100%, headaches do not meet criteria for a higher rating, bilateral hearing loss was rated appropriately, and hypertension did not warrant an increase.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses, their relationship to service, and whether they are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left wrist disability, right wrist disability, migraine headaches, psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and night terrors), degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as an upper and lower back condition), left leg disability (claimed as restless leg syndrome), and bilateral foot disability (claimed as flatfeet).,The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is granted as service-connected. The claims for initial compensable rating for right knee osteoma, service connection for a right knee disorder other than right knee osteoma (specifically, sleep apnea), and service connection for skin disorders, headaches, and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher initial rating and an earlier effective date for service-connected major depressive disorder have been withdrawn by his attorney.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate examination for service connection of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence considered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his adjustment disorder with depression and various physical conditions, prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).