Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to expand the issue of service connection for an acquired mental health condition, including depression, and remands it due to a duty to assist error regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors and a need for an opinion on the etiological relationship between any current psychiatric disability and his active service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection as it is proximately due to or a result of his service-connected disabilities. However, the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not incurred in or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the reopening of a previously denied claim for major depressive disorder, as well as claims for tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, PTSD, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and/or housebound status, left wrist limitation of motion, and Parkinson's disease under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's osteopenia, low back and cervical spine disorders, urinary incontinence, and depressive disorder are all granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is rated at a 50 percent disability rating for the period prior to September 28, 2018. For the period from September 28, 2018, a higher than 70 percent rating is denied.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression are rated at a 70 percent since September 14, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for this rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by his service-connected depression and fibromyalgia, thus granting secondary service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 7, 2008 for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's employment history and medical evidence show he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected conditions from that date.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders was denied. The earlier effective date claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for the left ankle disability and TDIU are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety is found to have begun in service and continues today.,The Veteran's migraines are found to be caused, at least in part, by his now service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety.,The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his now service-connected migraines.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder with anxiety (such as bipolar disorder) is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on his claims of a higher evaluation for tension headaches and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the current 50 percent rating for tension headaches does not adequately account for all symptoms, including changes in vision, and refers the case to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's reports from August 1991 are not considered in the current evaluations.

The Board has ordered additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including depression and major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active duty service, including any injury sustained during his period of active duty for training in 1983.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for depression was granted. Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected lumbar myositis is also granted, and the rating reduction of lumbar myositis from 40% to 20% is restored.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is now being returned to VA for further action.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, panic disorder and anxiety, are granted service connection. The earlier effective date for migraine headaches is denied.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied because she did not complete the first objective of her Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) and consistently failed to cooperate with her Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). Her case was placed in 'discontinued' status.