Depression Board decisions

The Board granted an 80% evaluation for the Veteran's seizure disorder on and after December 8, 2016. The decision also denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma or secondary to his service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and to provide the Veteran with adequate VA medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric disorders and sexual dysfunction condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of testicular cancer and depression, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for depressive disorder prior to February 3, 2018. The effective date for service connection was denied and the Veteran's cause of death due to myelofibrosis is acknowledged.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his respiratory failure was not caused by or related to his active duty service, nor were his service-connected disabilities a contributing factor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected.,A 20 percent rating for left sciatic nerve is granted. The effective date of this grant is October 23, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an increased rating for depressive disorder, and a TDIU due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hypertension, GERD, and left ear hearing loss has been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depression is denied. An effective date of August 24, 2018, for the award of a 70 percent rating for major depression is granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from the U.S. Navy ship USS Kitty Hawk and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD and alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to March 19, 2016, due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military sexual assault during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and reconsideration of service connection claims, including a gynecological disorder (cervical dysplasia), an upper respiratory condition (COPD), a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder, NOS), and a liver disorder (hepatitis C).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder. The decision finds that the Veteran's depression and anxiety are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of timely substantive appeal for PTSD, but will reconsider the original claim. The Veteran's service records show he had anxiety and depression during his military service.

The Veteran's residuals of traumatic brain injury are currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has denied a higher evaluation. The issue of SMC is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including additional education to pursue a career as a professor or school counselor, is remanded due to the need for a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.,The claim for service connection for skin cancer and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to ionizing radiation during service.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is remanded as it may be significantly impacted by a determination on the skin cancer claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of September 13, 2017 for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the aggravation aspect of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further development of evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.