Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, depression, stress, and alcohol abuse. The issues of service connection for these conditions are now remanded due to new evidence received since the last final decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder has been granted. Service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus is also granted. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depressive disorder, remains at 30 percent prior to May 29, 2019, but increased to 70 percent since that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his psychiatric disability and for a TDIU rating due to outstanding VA treatment records and further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee and depression, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to December 7, 2012. The case is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an increased disability rating for Bell's Palsy and service connection claims for Major Depression, Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, Gastrointestinal Disability (Acid Reflux), and Erectile Dysfunction. The Board also reopened the claim for service connection of Major Depression as secondary to service-connected Bell's Palsy.

The Veteran's MDD is granted at a 100% rating throughout the appeal period. The sinus disability issue is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI with cognitive and psychiatric manifestations resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating from October 23, 2008 to November 28, 2016. The current ratings under DC 9304 are replaced by the 50% rating granted herein.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, dementia, a psychiatric disorder other than dementia including PTSD and depression, and a back disorder due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional Social Security Administration records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests for additional records. The Veteran's daughter is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder has been granted a disability rating of 50 percent since the inception of the appeal, and 70 percent from December 1, 2016. The claim is based on new evidence that reopened his case.

The Board denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, finding that VA's care did not proximately cause the Veteran's death by suicide.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination. The issues include low back disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and TDIU due to issues with compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for depression before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS was rated at 50 percent prior to January 21, 2014 and increased to 70 percent effective January 21, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to inconsistencies in previous decisions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and/or depression, is being reviewed with additional VA clinical records from 1981 to 2007. Service connection for left hand neuropathy secondary to a service-connected left shoulder disability will also be remanded.