Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not service-connected. The TBI residuals are rated at 40 percent, which is the highest rating available under VA guidelines. The Veteran has been granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is related to his active military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, on a direct incurrence basis is denied. The claim for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain is granted with staged initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and TDIU remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder is granted. The right ankle disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board is remanding several issues including those related to PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness, low back condition, right and left foot conditions, and a right ankle condition. The Veteran must be scheduled for VA examinations to evaluate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to military service. His right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with psychotic features is denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder; evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc and joint disease; right shoulder disability; limitation of motion, right wrist with degenerative joint disease; and status post laceration, at wrist level, right third, fourth, and fifth finger tendons are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease, prostate cancer with frequent urination, erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer, and depression. The decision is based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Board denied reopening of previously denied claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, and bilateral tinnitus. The evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and outstanding private treatment records. The issues are related to various conditions including actinic keratosis, atherosclerosis lower extremities, atrial fibrillation, basal cell carcinoma left and right cheek/right nose, cervical spine stenosis, chronic kidney disease stage 3, depression, erectile dysfunction, essential hypertension, left carotid stenosis, mixed hyperlipidemia, lumbar spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and carotid artery stenosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance, finding that the evidence did not show an actual requirement of personal assistance from others.,The Board also denied service connection for cause of death as there was no service-connected disability at the time of the Veteran's death. The appellant's claims were not supported by evidence showing a service-connected condition or contributing to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder was granted. The claims for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, and for hip and low back disabilities were remanded.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for parotid neoplasm and acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to HIV, but denied the claim for prostatitis. The other conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) were denied as there was no evidence of a stressor event or other in-service injury that could be linked to the current conditions. The Board found insufficient evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors, which are required for service connection under certain circumstances.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His lumbar spine disability remains rated at 20 percent. The Board also found that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for Parkinson's disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depressive disorder with alcohol use. The evidence shows that his condition is related to his experiences in Iraq.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, but has remanded it due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to his service-connected depressive disorder and obesity.