Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating, resulting in a denial of an initial rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA, and TDIU due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide VA Form 21-4142 for all non-VA medical providers seen for mental health disorders and sleep apnea. A new VA examination must be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder, including whether it had its onset during active service or is related to in-service stressors, and if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for his lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The right shoulder and left great toe disorders are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disabilities including depression, gender dysphoria, anxiety disorder and panic disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder with recurrent major depression, paranoia, and PTSD is rated at 100 percent from January 11, 2010 to October 5, 2017.,SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person was granted from January 11, 2010 to October 5, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to April 6, 2018, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and examination, including consideration of the Veteran's MST claim and potential service connection for his diagnosed mental disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for polysubstance abuse and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed or denied, respectively. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disability (including major depression with psychotic features and PTSD), low back disability, and bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for several reasons, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and attempting to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. A new VA examination is also required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Depression, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a skin disorder and depressive disorder with anxiety due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The Veteran's skin condition may be related to in-service exposure, but further examination is needed. For the depressive disorder claim, a new examination is required to determine if it is proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 29, 1991 for the award of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded to determine if a TDIU should have an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD with TBI and recurrent major depressive disorder with psychotic features from January 9, 2012 to June 20, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his unemployability is due to Parkinson’s disease and associated symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with Depressive Disorder caused occupational and social impairment from August 1, 2016 through August 15, 2018. A higher 70 percent rating was granted for this period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for depressive disorder was denied. The Board found the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were reopened, but no new evidence was provided to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, has been reopened. The Board also remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism, a rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's other specified trauma related disorder with major depressive disorder has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, although generally functioning satisfactorily. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any other psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has vacated its previous decisions and remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical records and conducting examinations.