Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the maximum available rating. The Board has granted this rating and denied entitlement to a TDIU.

The claim of service connection for cause of death is reopened, but the Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and potential proximate causation.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 11, 2015 for service connection and a compensable rating for his depressive disorder are remanded. The right hip and knee disability secondary to service-connected conditions are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, sinusitis, GERD with irritable bowel syndrome, and migraine headaches were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied. The Board found that his depression did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not cause deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the claims for GERD evaluation and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no in-service stressor or injury to support a diagnosis of PTSD and other mental health conditions.

The Board granted service connection for epilepsy effective November 19, 2019 and denied the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability prior to November 9, 2007. The VA pension benefits in the amount of $111,943.00 from December 1, 2007 through July 31, 2017 were also granted.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development. For service connection, the Veteran needs to provide a clear diagnosis of her current psychiatric conditions and establish a link between those conditions and her military service. For tinea pedis, additional evidence is needed to determine if there has been any worsening since the last examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's February 2016 PTSD diagnosis and opinion. An addendum opinion is needed from an appropriate clinician regarding whether any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hiatal hernia/GERD and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits claims are remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration, as his service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements prior to September 8, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities are related to service. The RO is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records and private non-VA treatment records, as well as an addendum medical opinion from the January 2018 examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating greater than 50 percent prior to September 11, 2015 and a rating greater than 70 percent from September 11, 2015 for service-connected PTSD with depression due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, stress, depression, sleep disorder, nightmares, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was not incurred in or related to his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to determine if any of his claimed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Major Depressive Disorder and Low Back Disorder are granted. The Board found the evidence in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran's MDD had its onset during service, thus granting service connection. For his low back disorder, the Board determined a new VA examination is needed as the April 2013 examiner did not adequately address the Veteran's in-service complaints and treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and need for further examination. The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied, but his unspecified depressive disorder claim requires additional evaluation.

The Board has dismissed all the issues in this appeal due to the death of the appellant during its pendency.