Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, right knee degenerative joint disease (right knee disability), obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The Veteran is now receiving a 10% rating for his allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder prior to January 10, 2014, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient efforts to identify the appellant's current mailing address.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board denied service connection for left hand and left foot cysts with residuals, as the evidence does not show a nexus to active military service or presumed herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection was granted for meningioma, but only based on a remote head injury during military service. The Veteran's depressive disorder claim was denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for Major Depressive Disorder is denied, and his thoracolumbar spine condition remains at a 10 percent rating. The case is remanded for further development regarding the higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 70 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder, effective from May 18, 2006 to October 29, 2018, and after March 1, 2019, is granted. The decision also grants a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for a VA addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection claims and effective date issues, but has remanded his claim seeking a noninitial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected headaches, vascular type.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a verified stressor for PTSD and further medical guidance is needed to determine if the Veteran suffers from any other acquired psychiatric disabilities related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and further development of the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. The claim will be adjudicated based on all reasonably related acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression as secondary to bilateral sensorineural impairment and tinnitus, and for entitlement to cause of death benefits. The Veteran's claim is not granted due to lack of evidence supporting his service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression and bilateral shoulder and knee conditions, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 18, 2014. As such, an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective October 18, 2013 due to his service-connected depressive disorder. He also qualifies for SMC under section 1114(s) as of the same date because he has additional service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or more.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed low back disability and related conditions. The Veteran must provide additional medical evidence or obtain releases, and a new opinion is needed on the etiology of his low back disability and its relationship to other disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 100 percent for major depressive disorder is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The application to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the effective date prior to January 27, 2015 for increased assignment of 100 percent for major depressive disorder is denied.,The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for sinus condition with epistaxis remains pending and remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and failure to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on issues including a reduction of disability rating and psychiatric disorder claims. The Veteran's neck condition was reduced from 20% to 10%, but no effective date is specified. Psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of VA treatment records and a need for an updated statement of reasons or bases. The Veteran is entitled to a higher rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, but additional evidence is needed before a decision can be made.