Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and the need for new nexus opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his other conditions remain under review.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), bilateral hip disability, and bilateral leg disabilities. However, as these conditions are not established by competent medical evidence, service connection itself is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's depressive disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of stroke and entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship between his service-connected conditions and his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for PTSD due to MST. The Board has also found that the Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his other diagnosed psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, low back disability, left knee disability, and hearing loss. The RO must conduct new examinations to assess the current severity of these disabilities and issue an SOC regarding the effective dates of the awards.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for varicose veins and major depressive disorder prior to specific dates were denied. A TDIU was granted effective from August 8, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder caused his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes. Service connection was denied for a low back condition and a bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional information about his employment history and a completed VA Form 21-8940 application.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder secondary to the service-connected diabetes, but denied service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back disability have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they were remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and left knee disability are of sufficient severity to preclude substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU rating from October 1, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for depression is dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected depression with PTSD prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment from May 27, 2008 through January 15, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to comply with a previous remand directive, and an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has found that there is no evidence of a skin disability or diabetes mellitus, type II, being related to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disability are also not supported by the evidence presented.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and/or secondary to a service-connected calluses. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service or if they are aggravated by any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, to include other diagnosed conditions such as major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia. The case is now pending further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including metastatic bone cancer and prostate cancer, did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 9, 2016. The appeal for TDIU is denied.