Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for left and right foot scars, as well as higher ratings for his hallux valgus conditions and depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, including adjustment disorder and depressive disorder, will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of 50% disability for Major Depressive Disorder, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a depressive disorder due to inadequacies in the current etiology opinions. The Veteran's effective date for obstructive sleep apnea is also being remanded.,The Veteran must provide additional evidence or argument regarding his earlier effective date claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shortness of breath is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,An initial rating of 30 percent, prior to August 3, 2019, for unspecified depressive disorder is denied; and a rating of 50 percent, but no higher, since then is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, but has caused significant work and social impairment. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is reopened due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied, while his claim for a compensable disability rating for herpes simplex was granted. The claims for initial ratings for left hip bursitis (limitation of flexion), extension, and abduction were also granted. His claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and has determined that new evidence supports this reopening. However, the Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) as there is no diagnosis of these conditions under DSM-V criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to clarify the Veteran's employment status and assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorders have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to October 28, 2015 was denied as his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of the currently assigned 30 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD from October 28, 2015 was also denied as his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of the currently assigned 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he withdrew his request.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep disorder is denied as the objective medical evidence does not show that his sleep disorder was caused by an event, injury, or illness during active service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder) has been rated at 70 percent since June 1, 2013. The claim for a higher rating is denied as the evidence does not show that his symptoms meet or approximate total occupational and social impairment.

An initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD has been granted, effective from the date of claim on May 20, 2008. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

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

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for burial benefits due to lack of evidence of an original or reopened claim for compensation.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding other potential causes of the Veteran's depression.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is currently rated at 70 percent since September 17, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's initial evaluation of 50 percent for depression from March 23, 2012 to August 9, 2017 is granted. The appeal for an increased rating for depression beyond this period is denied.