Depression Board decisions

The Board has denied a higher rating for major depression and has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but not higher, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than February 4, 2010, for a grant of service connection for depressive disorder was dismissed as a matter of law. The claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent prior to April 13, 2015, and greater than 50 percent thereafter, for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depressive disorder, must be denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of substantial compliance with previous development requests.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted service connection. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 29, 2019, and the initial 10 percent rating from March 20, 2019, were also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and major depressive disorder have been reopened. The right hand disability and right knee disability claims are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claim for a tremor disorder has also been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability (unspecified depressive disorder) and his headache disability (tension headaches) are both granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with other specified personality disorder and his TDIU claim are both remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic neuropathic pain, right groin, was denied. The Board found that the current disability picture did not warrant an increased rating.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for a back disability. Service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder due to incomplete development of records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, major depressive disorder, insomnia disorder, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and cirrhosis of the liver have been granted. The effective dates are set as per the date of receipt of the respective claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of service connection claims, including a psychiatric disability, chronic headache, and emphysema. The Veteran's death prevented direct review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder), and PTSD is granted. The claims are based on aggravation of pre-existing conditions during military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination to assess her employability given her service-connected disabilities prior to April 29, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracic outlet syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran's TOS may have preexisted service but was not aggravated by it. The MST claim is also being addressed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his symptoms are related to his military service and he meets all three elements of a valid PTSD claim.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. However, the case is remanded as a new VA examination is needed to clarify whether any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to traumatic brain injury, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, migraine headaches, and left eyebrow scar is granted. The claims for right arm condition, left arm condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot condition, sleep condition, neck condition, and prostate cancer are denied.