Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD due to lack of corroborated in-service stressor. The claim for increased rating of major depressive disorder is remanded as there may have been a worsening since the last examination.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for arthritis is denied.,Service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for his service-connected psychiatric disability and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total social impairment, but also noted that the Veteran had difficulty maintaining a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 1, 2018 (excluding periods of temporary total evaluation) is rated at 50 percent. The rating will remain at this level until a higher evaluation can be granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are currently rated as 70% disabling, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea. The Board finds that the Veteran’s symptoms likely had their onset during service.,Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus and right leg numbness as there is no evidence of these conditions in service records, and they are not related to service.,The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed after his period of active duty service. The Board finds that the VA examiner’s opinion is inadequate due to a lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of June 3, 2009. The Board granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted service connection.,Service connection has not been established for choroidal melanoma, dry eye, glaucoma, or optic atrophy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychotic disorder. The case is remanded to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder is denied because there was no pending intent to file in the claims file prior to October 5, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete examinations, lack of proper measurements, and the need for additional opinions regarding his psychiatric disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's service connection for depression was granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism and the TDIU claim were both remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in adjudicating service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with memory loss due to MST. The Veteran's claims are pending and will be reviewed again.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right shoulder disabilities. The claims for service connection for depression and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his acquired psychiatric condition, service connection for a right wrist condition, respiratory disorder, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disability, nature and etiology of his right wrist condition, respiratory and sinus conditions, and whether his ulcerative proctitis is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to suggest a relationship between his current unspecified personality disorder and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for SSA disability benefits records, which must be obtained before proceeding.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The remaining claims for higher ratings on his right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed personal assault stressor and obtaining medical opinions regarding his diagnoses and service connection claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability manifested by nervousness and depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, chest pain, a heart disability, hypertension, and headaches. The preponderance of the evidence did not support these claims.