Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, including secondary to bilateral foot disabilities. The Veteran's varicose veins are found to have onset in service or be caused by service-connected conditions of the feet and lumbar spine. His depression with anxiety is found to be aggravated by service-connected conditions, including bilateral foot disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathies into the lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxiety, due to a lack of a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim to include anxiety, insomnia and depression in addition to PTSD. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current diagnosis and etiology of any psychiatric disorder found to be present.

The Veteran was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation due to service-connected conditions. However, the hospitalization did not exceed 21 days and thus does not meet the criteria for a temporary total evaluation.

The Board found that the April 21, 1992 rating decision denying service connection for anxiety with depression was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The decision concluded that any error in finding no chronic nervous condition during service did not manifestly change the outcome.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric symptoms and residuals of mercury poisoning are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Veteran's initial ratings for loss of balance, major depressive disorder, and right knee arthritis have been granted. The rating for loss of balance has been increased to 70 percent. The rating for major depressive disorder has also been increased to 100 percent. However, the rating for right knee arthritis remains at 10 percent and is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders during his active duty service. Additional development is needed, including an addendum medical opinion addressing in-service events and their connection to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder. The case will be returned for a supplemental opinion from an appropriate VA clinician.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to a lack of opinions regarding service connection and an inability to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience. Therefore, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board found that prior to August 6, 2014, the Veteran did not meet the schedular rating requirements for TDIU and there was no evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which may be related to service. The issues of increased ratings for duodenal ulcer and left ankle instability remain unresolved.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective February 21, 2014 due to his service-connected fibromyalgia and depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The examiner is requested to provide a medical opinion on whether these conditions are related to her in-service sexual assault.

The Board found the Veteran's reports of an in-service sexual assault not credible and concluded that her depressive disorder did not have its onset during service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted. The claims for increased ratings of headaches, sinusitis, and gastritis have been denied. The cases for service connection for erectile dysfunction and sleep apnea are remanded.