Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no competent evidence of a nexus between his major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease of the spine from May 31, 2018 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for gastric ulcer was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder (recurrent) previously rated as depressive reaction was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and COPD are all granted. The Veteran is also granted service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 4, 2015, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and for increased evaluations for her PTSD and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to additional development needed.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but dismissed the claim for special monthly compensation based on a need for regular aid and attendance of another person and/or at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and TBI with central vertigo are granted at a 70 percent rating from January 4, 2011 to April 2, 2014. A separate 70 percent rating is also granted after April 2, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder and right foot drop have been remanded due to the need for new examinations.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left foot drop is also remanded as it may be related to an in-service football injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he has maintained employment throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is granted as service connection due to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder, NOS have been rated at 70 percent since November 25, 2008. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they primarily include nightmares, avoidance tendencies, mood swings, anger outbursts, impaired impulse control, hypervigilance, chronic sleep impairment, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with secondary anxiety was denied in January 2008, and the effective date of this grant is set at July 5, 2018, when the Veteran submitted an intent to file a claim. The Board found no legal basis to grant an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, stress and alcohol abuse dependence; mild head trauma with blackout; menorrhagia claimed as vaginal bleeding; lower mouth, swelling; lump on the left side of neck; lump behind the left ear; sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, claimed as nasal congestion; skin trauma and abrasions, right arm; and skin abrasions of the right elbow, bilateral knees and upper back.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for Major Depressive Disorder prior to April 26, 2016 was granted. An increased rating of 70 percent for Major Depressive Disorder beginning April 26, 2016 was denied. The Veteran received an initial compensable rating (10%) for Left Lumbar Radiculopathy and a 40% rating for his Lumbar Strain Disability starting March 2, 2006. Other issues were remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and an acquired psychiatric disability due to a lack of medical opinions on record.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a nexus between the Veteran's hypertension and her service-connected psychiatric disability. The claims for bilateral foot condition, low back condition, cervical spine condition (right side of neck), right arm condition, and right shoulder condition are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine is dismissed. The Board also granted an effective date of December 7, 2010 for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations for various conditions are remanded due to need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding a bilateral hand disability, low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) need further development. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and cyclothymic disorder, as well as hypertension. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being evaluated further.,The appeal regarding a cervical spine disorder is also remanded due to insufficient medical records.