Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected panic disorder with agoraphobia, MDD, and dysthymia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder or Unipolar Disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability separate from his service-connected PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection was granted or denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than post-traumatic stress disorder, including depression and anxiety; sleep apnea; and headaches. The diagnoses are based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder and any personality disorder. The Veteran's OSA is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to October 31, 2014. The rating was increased to 50 percent from October 31, 2014 to March 10, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, as there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are rated as 50 percent disabling from May 1, 2013. The Board denied a higher rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for depressive disorder with anxious mood (PTSD) is denied as the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.,The Veteran's right hypothenar eminence scar does not warrant a compensable disability rating due to lack of other disabling effects not considered under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.,The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for ataxia cerebellar with diplopia and dysarthria is remanded as the onset date of the condition needs clarification, and authorization to obtain relevant private treatment records is required.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded due to his assertion that he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective September 28, 2007. The Board also granted a TDIU rating effective the same date.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that symptoms began during service and have continued since.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, GERD, colon disorders, headache disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), eye disorders, low back and neck disorders, erectile dysfunction, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes. The decision also denied reopening of the claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 19, 2014, for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder including depression and anxiety symptoms with cannabis use disorder are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for bipolar disorder including depression and anxiety symptoms with cannabis use disorder is also dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and memory loss due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, as well as compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye blind spot due to VA medical treatment on June 26, 2014 are all dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stressor events are uncorroborated and inconsistent with his MOS, leading to a remand for an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and back disorder was denied. However, the Veteran received a grant of a 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar strain with chronic subscapular myositis from February 20, 2014. The decision is mixed as it granted one issue (back disorder) but denied another (PTSD and major depressive disorder).

The Veteran's service-connected back condition and depression rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 6, 2008 to April 1, 2009. From July 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010, his combined disabilities continued to prevent substantial gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no effective date is assigned as it relates to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including whether any current psychiatric disability is related to service or worsened by his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU due to lack of sufficient evidence regarding the onset and causation of these conditions during active service.