Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for right hip disability, left hip disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and other conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's SSA records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous directives and the need for a new VA examination to assess the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a vocational assessment and VA examinations of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in severity within one year prior to May 31, 2011. The effective date for the increased rating from 10 percent to 30 percent for bilateral flat feet is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety has been reopened, and the Board has granted this claim. The claims for erectile dysfunction and left ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, as well as secondary service connection for polysubstance abuse. The Veteran's stressor during service is considered credible, and his current diagnoses are supported by medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's TBI and assault in service are considered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain recent VA treatment records and conduct current VA examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for various conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with traumatic brain injury from November 4, 2010 has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's current Obstructive Sleep Apnea is proximately due to his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Depression and Alcohol Dependence, which caused him to gain weight. The Board has granted secondary service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder were rated at 70 percent for the period from April 24, 2013 to May 20, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, are related to service. The right foot bunion case is denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the condition and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete review of articles submitted by the Veteran, and a new addendum opinion is needed from the VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (PDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The decision is based on the Veteran's various diagnoses of a psychiatric disorder during and after service.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted service connection, but his post-traumatic stress disorder claim is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tension headaches, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claim.

The Board has denied the claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for earlier effective date(s) for MDD with GAD and an increased rating. The Veteran's MDD is currently rated at 70%.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, and his unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not appearing for a VA examination, and he is willing to attend another one. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is medically linked to his in-service diagnosis of adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

The Board denied service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of clinical diagnosis and the presence of other diagnosed mental disorders.