Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and MDD have been granted, with a rating of 100% effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for PTSD with depression, memory problems, and hallucinations is granted, effective from December 12, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot dorsum scar and left lower extremity reflex sympathetic dystrophy are denied.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for gynecological condition, chest pain, right leg pain, left leg disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypermobility syndrome, arthritis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, personality disorder, thoracic and lumbar spine, right shin splints, left shin splints, cervical spine disability, CFS, right lower extremity radiculitis, left lower extremity radiculitis, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, dyspepsia, dizziness, left hamstring spasms, and right hamstring spasms. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (somatic symptom and depressive disorders), and IBS.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder are rated at a 70 percent rating, which is granted. The Veteran also qualifies for TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for depression and radiation proctitis due to service-connected prostate cancer, as the Veteran failed to appear for a VA examination. The Veteran will be given another opportunity for an examination.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his depression causes him to require regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including a need for additional VA examinations and obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include Major Depressive Disorder. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his anxiety disorder with depression and restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss effective from June 18, 2016.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at a 70 percent disability rating for the period prior to March 25, 2015. The benefit sought on appeal is granted.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the left upper extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the right upper extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the left lower extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the right lower extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a low back disability began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a bilateral eye disability began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that Crohn’s Disease began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Entitlement to service connection for a stroke is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability with a heart attack is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and lack of discussion on the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic sinus disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting medical opinions.,For asthma, a new VA examination is needed to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of PTSD, MDD, and OCD, as well as his claim for TDIU are being remanded due to procedural errors in the initial rating decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral dequervain’s tenosynovitis and has also granted service connection for this condition. However, it denied service connection for depression and anxiety as there was no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a lacerated right inner bicep with nerve damage and scar is denied due to the period of other than honorable discharge. The Board has remanded claims for psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left elbow condition, and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 29, 2014 did not preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience otherwise qualify him.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's major depressive disorder, to include schizophrenia, prior to July 18, 2017, and from July 18, 2017 to August 9, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD, alcohol dependence, and unspecified depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.