Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The specific issues are tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as right leg condition), and a psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for HIV, but the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, anxiety, and depression secondary to HIV have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of TDIU due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder and migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 70% rating for PTSD with depression was denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 70% for PTSD with depression prior to May 1, 2015, and a rating in excess of 50% thereafter, was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a head injury, including dementia/brain disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and stressors, as well as competent medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD and anxiety, due to military sexual trauma. The TDIU claim is remanded as it must be deferred until a disability rating is assigned for the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's aseptic meningitis residuals are rated at 50% from April 26, 2001.,Persistent depression with insomnia disorder is rated at 70% from February 28, 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran asserts that his sleep disorder is secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder and/or bilateral ankle and back disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and polysubstance abuse, is granted. The Board found credible evidence of the in-service sexual assault that led to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder was previously remanded. The Board finds that the issue of TDIU has been raised, and it is now being remanded along with the Veteran’s TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 14, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, except for a grant of a disability rating of 70 percent for depressive disorder. The other conditions and disabilities were not found to be related to service or warrant a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychological condition (including anxiety and depression). The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for a skin rash and low back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on current severity.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine if the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability caused or aggravated his left knee and right hip conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 9, 2010 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD/psychological disorder, along with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 9, 2010.