Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for a mental disorder (insomnia with major depressive disorder) since August 21, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeals are REMANDED as there is insufficient evidence to decide these claims at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is capable of performing daily living tasks without assistance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on a schedular basis for the period since September 25, 2009. However, the case is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU prior to that date.

Your PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has been rated at the highest level (100%) since November 2, 2014. As your rating is already at its maximum, you are not eligible for a TDIU.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective November 22, 2010. The issue of an increased rating for low back strain remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's back strain is granted as service connected.,Service connection for a prostate disorder, including prostate cancer and due to herbicide exposure, is denied.,Service connection for an acquired mental health condition diagnosed as dementia, PTSD, and depressive disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure, is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing VA medical records and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disabilities will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential missing service treatment records and need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD or any other diagnosed acquired psychiatric diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and panic disorder, as secondary to the service-connected right hip disability. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is also granted. The Veteran's right foot neuritis (previously claimed as right foot numbness) is granted as secondary to her now service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and respiratory disorder are denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each granted a 10 percent rating, and her right shoulder sprain is granted a 40 percent rating. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.,The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability to include adjustment disorder and depression is granted a 50% rating prior to October 3, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings throughout the entire period of appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the audiometric testing does not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and related conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU effective February 6, 2013.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression. The case is remanded to determine if there are any superimposed acquired psychiatric disabilities during active duty service.