Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted service connection as due to herbicide agent exposure. The Board has remanded for further examination on the remaining issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employability prior to January 30, 2007, related to his PTSD and depression. The VA examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran could be employed in non-sheltered work environments during this period.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety is rated at 50% from June 25, 2018 to April 16, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from August 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, low back, left hip, right knee, right ankle, right foot, and right hand conditions, as well as his erectile dysfunction (orchiodynia), head injury, headaches, anxiety, and depression. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction on a secondary basis due to multiple service-connected disabilities, including Crohn's disease and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and twisted esophagus, GERD are not related to his active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, finding no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability and insufficient evidence linking any such condition to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for a retrospective medical opinion regarding his low back disability and an examination for his neck disorder.

The Board has denied an increased evaluation for depression secondary to pemphigoid disease and has remanded the issue of initial compensable rating for cicatricial pemphigoid disease.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depression and alcohol use disorder is rated at 100 percent disabling effective March 17, 2014. The appeal for TDIU was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric condition, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's major depression, anxious distress, and OCD were rated at a 70 percent since September 5, 2014. Prior to this date, the rating was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and claustrophobia, previously claimed as a nervous condition. The claims are remanded to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder should be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, an unspecified depressive disorder, and a psychotic disorder is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records from the Orlando Health Care System in 1994. The Veteran must provide authorization for these records to be obtained.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 50 percent from September 23, 2007 to October 9, 2008. From October 9, 2008, the rating remained at 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to November 23, 2016 was rated at 50 percent and now granted a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to present for a scheduled VA examination. Additional development is needed, including scheduling another examination and obtaining all relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for vocal cord atrophy was granted at a 60 percent level. Service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, secondary to his service-connected vocal cord atrophy, was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse disorders were rated at 50 percent prior to February 27, 2017. From August 1, 2017, the rating was increased to 100 percent.