Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and substance abuse disorder. The Board found no relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the effective date and initial rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and ratings related to various disabilities has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD, also claimed as paranoid schizophrenia and depression with nightmares is granted. The appeal regarding the increased rating for lumbar strain is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and any other psychological disability, including an anxiety disorder, and depression using the DSM-V criteria. The examiner must consider the Veteran's in-service experiences and provide opinions on whether his PTSD is based upon conceded stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, effective October 31, 2003. A TDIU rating and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits are granted from the same effective date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety prior to October 14, 2015 was denied as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with decreased work efficiency or intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and a 70 percent rating for his service-connected mental disorders (including depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other service-connected mental disorders) is granted effective as of May 4, 2007.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and a depressive disorder), right knee disability, and left knee disability have been granted. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are still pending.

The Board has dismissed all issues of appeal related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD and depression, and TDIU.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for MDD was denied prior to March 11, 2019. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher than 50 percent rating.,From March 11, 2019, the Veteran's MDD was rated at 70 percent. The Board determined that this rating adequately reflected his symptoms and impairment.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The appeal to increase this rating is denied.,New evidence has been added to the record that suggests a possible positive nexus between the Veteran’s stomach disability and her military service. As such, the claim for service connection of the stomach disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities (PTSD and other specified depressive disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder) are reopened due to new evidence that suggests a possible positive nexus between her current diagnoses and military service. The claim for service connection of the acquired psychiatric disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.,The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.,The Veteran's stomach disability (likely GERD) is remanded to determine if it is related to service, specifically the November 1981 diagnosis of mild gastroenteritis or a report of coughing up blood during service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further examination and rating consideration. The examiner must also consider whether her PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault.,The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.

The Veteran is eligible for a TDIU on a schedular basis as of August 3, 2018, and the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination, requiring a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any current psychiatric disability and whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board granted initial compensable ratings for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, and coccyx strain. The appeal of the gastrointestinal disability was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye disorder, diagnosed as legal blindness of the right eye due to macular depression. The claim of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 10 percent for traumatic brain injury with headaches is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and Depression are related to her military sexual trauma (MST) in service, and thus service connection is granted.