Depression Board decisions

The Board found no periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection due to lack of eligibility.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability and major depression/nervous condition is denied. The issue of service connection for major depression/nervous condition is remanded.

Service connection is granted for left knee, right foot, left foot, left hip and lumbar spine disorders as well as a psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder with anxiety).,The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability led to or aggravated his other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was granted in a June 2013 rating decision, and he is now receiving benefits for diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and major depressive disorder due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The agent fees were awarded based on this grant of benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for prostatitis is granted, with the effective date set at April 21, 2011.,Other claims remain denied.

The Veteran seeks an effective date earlier than August 25, 2016 for service connection of PTSD and other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Board finds that the evidence does not support this claim as the earliest claim was received on August 25, 2016. For the initial rating issue, the Veteran seeks a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and obesity are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has been granted a total disability rating of 100 percent, effective from June 24, 2014. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but did not cause total social and occupational impairment. The initial rating of 70 percent for the period from March 27, 2007 through March 16, 2010 is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder have been found to be sufficient to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective April 29, 2015. The rating for allergic rhinitis remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for psychiatric disabilities and gout. The remaining issues are also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and Depression are granted as service-connected due to in-service stressors confirmed by his unit receiving a Combat Action Ribbon.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include heart condition, stomach condition, skin condition, and depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. The examination is needed to determine if these conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for major depressive disorder is denied because there was no ascertainable increase in disability prior to October 20, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is remanded pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for depression/dysthymia was granted.,The Veteran's appeals to reopen service connection for a nervous disorder, chronic bilateral dislocation of the sternoclavicular joints, lumbosacral strain, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus were all denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,From September 18, 2018, the Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination and because there is an indication that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, may be related to his active duty service. The Veteran was diagnosed with anxiety and depression during treatment records.