Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to several issues, including providing proper notice for a personal assault claim related to PTSD, obtaining missing federal and private treatment records, and conducting a new VA examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected depressive disorder with insomnia was granted at a 50% level, but the Board has now granted an increased rating to 70%, effective from May 14, 2003, to October 2, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 12, 2015. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms did not cause total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and major depressive disorder, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 5, 2020. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the pending appeal for service connection of MDD.

The Board denied service connection for Grave’s Disease, arthritis, removal of gall bladder, acid reflux, tubal ligation, thyrotoxicosis and depression as the evidence did not show a link to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for major depressive disorder is remanded due to deficiencies in the August 2019 VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's service connection claim and because of an error in not considering her SMC based on aid and attendance claim.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as the VA opinion obtained prior to the July 2019 rating decision did not adequately address the Veteran's diagnoses of unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, which are related to his service in Korea.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with stenosis, depressive disorder and anxiety, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis have been granted service connection. The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis is denied.

The Veteran's schizophrenia with major depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected mental disorders.

The Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome (obstructive sleep apnea) is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The issue of entitlement to gout is also being remanded for the same reason.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, due to the lack of credible supporting evidence that these conditions were incurred during or as a result of military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, and Cognitive Disorder. The VA examiner found no evidence that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically depression. The case is being returned to VA for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding all acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus is granted, and the claims for service connection for varicose veins, viral meningitis, right knee disability, bilateral flatfeet, shin splints (to include as due to bilateral flatfeet), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to November 28, 2006, on an extraschedular basis due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities alone or in combination precluded him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as cannabis use disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence, including a need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder (in sustained remission), and cirrhosis of the liver have been granted. An effective date of October 3, 2013 has been established for his 50% rating for tension headaches. The application to reopen his claim for service connection for chronic alcoholism is also granted.