Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Veteran's conditions have been granted and he is now receiving a 100% rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. He also receives special monthly compensation based on housebound status and need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the original grants of service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, par cervical region; major depression with mood congruent psychotic features; nummular eczema; headaches; and lumbar strain were based on fraud. As a result, these claims have been severed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD as secondary to prostate cancer was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD, and that his other diagnosed conditions (major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with depressed mood) were not related to active duty service or to any service-connected disability. His claim for TDIU was also denied due to the lack of sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and other disabilities. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on these issues because no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea or whether it is related to any service-connected disability. Additionally, he needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records should be obtained as they may contain relevant information about his SSA disability claim. The Veteran also needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his in-service assault.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder. The Veteran's low back disability is found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent from April 10, 2018 to September 23, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed for the period prior to January 17, 2017 due to his already receiving SMC based on housebound status. The case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU on behalf of the Veteran from January 17, 2017.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations were not conducted as per remand instructions and thus, the claims for service connection are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically his claimed PTSD and schizoaffective disorder. The VA is required to provide an adequate examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the cause of the Veteran's death is related to his service, specifically PTSD. However, due to insufficient evidence on whether PTSD was caused by his military service in Vietnam, the case is being sent back for further investigation.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection due to her requests for withdrawal of her claims, except for a remand for further review on some issues.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and depressive disorder claims are remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA or private treatment records. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability from the other claims.

The Board has decided to grant a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder and remand the issue of entitlement to a higher rating. The decision also grants TDIU, but vacates the previous remand on this issue.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the restoration of benefits due to an incarceration adjustment. The remaining claims for service connection and rating issues are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive and anxiety disorders, was rated at 30 percent since March 29, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were consistent with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded four issues: service connection for a bilateral hip disability, gastritis, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and chronic kidney disease. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's federal records from the Social Security Administration and his VA treatment records.

An effective date of June 2, 2009, is granted for the grant of service connection for a lumbar strain. The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was reopened and allowed to this extent only.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's service status during her Naval Reserve active duty, specifically regarding the date of an incident of military sexual trauma (MST) that occurred in December 1992. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders related to this MST.