Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus has been denied as the earliest date of claim is September 15, 2014.,The Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and depression have both been granted. The evidence received since the last denial shows a current diagnosis of sleep apnea and new medical opinions linking depression to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depression was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied.,The Veteran served on active duty from March 1977 to March 1981. His service-connected disabilities include hepatitis C rated at 40% and depressive disorder rated at 30%. The combined rating is 60%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on percentage alone.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral foot disability, to include pes planus, are granted. The remaining issues of service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and bilateral foot pain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, swelling of the lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to missing examination reports and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to chronic bronchitis. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support a current diagnosis of PTSD or any link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unverified in-service stressors and events, requiring further development including obtaining deck logs of the USS Gunston Hall.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD disability was granted a 70% rating from June 14, 2007 to June 14, 2017. A TDIU was also granted from January 30, 2008 to June 14, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the prior rating decisions and that the correct facts were known at the time. The effective date was set as December 1, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an addendum opinion on PTSD diagnosis criteria, secondary service connection claim, in-service stressor confirmation, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board granted an effective date of November 3, 2008 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because the Veteran could not maintain substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues related to his erectile dysfunction, squamous cell carcinoma, and unspecified depressive disorder. The VA is required to conduct additional development regarding herbicide agent exposure and asbestos exposure allegations, as well as provide a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder are denied as there is no evidence to support higher ratings under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and TBI was rated at 50 percent prior to July 16, 2018. Beginning on that date, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The issues on appeal are whether service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) should be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, sleep apnea, and tension headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The rating of 20% is assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's salpingectomy scar is rated at a noncompensable level, but granted an initial 10 percent rating.,The Veteran’s amputation scar of the left middle finger remains at a noncompensable level.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for prostate cancer is granted at 100 percent. The issues of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety are remanded.