Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating from August 14, 2019. Prior to that date, the Veteran had been rated at 30 percent for his depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was dismissed due to his death, and no eligible parties have submitted requests for substitution within the subsequent one-year period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TBI, PTSD with depressive disorder/alcohol abuse, non-epileptic seizure disorder, GERD, CFS, and low back disorder are all rated at their maximum levels.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 16, 2009 to August 13, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, depression, and sleep disturbance due to lack of current diagnoses in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to unclear diagnoses and potential misclassification of periods of reserve service. Additional development is needed, including verification of all periods of service, examination of the Veteran, and clarification on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete records, including a lack of National Guard personnel records from 1985. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are being evaluated again with a new examiner.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent for the period from August 10, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted due to the evidence linking his current symptoms to his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for a panic disorder with major depressive disorder and remanded the issue of rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's neurobehavioral effects, including twitching, skin crawling, jerking, anxiety attacks, headaches, depression, and nervous condition are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the current VA opinions do not address his in-service symptoms or causation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease of both lower extremities, and major depressive disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to his death. His claim for PTSD with depression was granted, and the issue is no longer in appellate status.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria. The issue of service connection for depressive disorder, secondary to left ear hearing loss, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD with depression and special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The claims for service connection for right knee disability, high cholesterol, and hypertension were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. Service connection for a psychiatric disability (PTSD), left hip disability, and depression has been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of facial and posterior scalp scars, painful scars on the posterior scalp, and PTSD with depression and anxiety have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions warrant a rating higher than the currently assigned 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD disability was initially rated at 30 percent prior to April 27, 2016. Effective from that date, his rating was increased to 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities because additional development is needed. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, but his TDIU application remains pending as he did not submit the required VA Form 21-8940.