Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease with multilevel degenerative changes, s/p fusion of L4-L5 lumbar vertebrae and a rating in excess of 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (previously claimed as mood disorder claimed as depression under DC 9434).

The Veteran's PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder have been rated at 70 percent since January 2, 2019. The appeal has been denied as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent effective June 12, 2012. The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability remains at a 40 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD and major depressive disorder, requiring further development including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and also denied a TDIU, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is not related to his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and schizoaffective disorder due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spondylosis was denied. The VA granted a 50% rating for insomnia from May 24, 2017 to January 27, 2020.,From January 28, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for insomnia with major depressive disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, while the ratings for residuals of a right ankle fracture and MDD were also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder have not been shown to result in total occupational and social impairment, thus the current rating of 70 percent is denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not the level of impairment required for a higher disability rating. The Board denied his claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, recurrent panic disorder, agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since January 8, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS is remanded.

Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The persistent depressive disorder was rated at 30%, the postoperative scar on the right groin had no compensable rating, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between her current mental health conditions and her military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to include memory loss as a residual of service-connected encephalitis in the June 1973 rating decision. However, an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cognitive disorder and major depression is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for status post pterygium excision of bilateral eyes is denied. The application to reopen a claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, previously evaluated as major depression and anxiety claimed as nervous condition, is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including passive-aggressive personality disorder, depression, and anxiety, finding that the conditions were not caused by service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder and major depressive disorder, warrants a disability rating of 50 percent.