Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities.,Service connection was granted for bilateral knee disabilities with separate ratings for the right and left meniscal disabilities. The Veteran received a compensable rating for his right knee scar and a 20 percent rating for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there is no medical nexus between his current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective January 1, 2019. Service connection for residuals of right great toe injury and hypertension are both granted. The Veteran's service connection claim for right knee condition and left knee degenerative joint disease remains pending.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The cases are being returned for further development, including obtaining SSA records, VA treatment records, and additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including deviated septum, broken nose, loss of smell, difficulty breathing, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD, anxiety, depression), diverticulitis, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to address these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, left-leg residuals of broken leg, right-knee disorder, right-ankle disorder, left-ankle disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia disorder, right-lower-extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) are not service-connected.

Service connection is granted for right foot gout.,Service connection is granted for a bilateral knee condition secondary to service-connected hip conditions.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease with IVDS and lumbar facet degenerative arthrosis and chronic lumbar pain syndrome claimed as lower back condition.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,Remand is required for further evaluation of a right thigh disability.,Remand is required for further evaluation of a respiratory condition.,Remand is required to obtain private treatment records and determine the relationship between any kidney conditions (including erectile dysfunction or Peyronie's Disease) and service.

The Board denied service connection for HIV, depression, hypertension, and headaches as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen her service connection claims for OSA, depression, a throat condition (claimed as thymoma), and hypothyroidism. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded due to new evidence submitted since the final rating decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 70 percent since March 2, 2012. The Board also granted a TDIU rating effective from March 2, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claim due to conflicting evidence on whether the Veteran requires regular aid and assistance of another person or is housebound due to her service-connected major depressive disorder. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, and entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded due to the need to consider both former and current rating criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 16, 2018 was rated at 70 percent due to significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is considered a contributory cause of his death.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent since October 16, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition has been reopened, and his PTSD with insomnia and unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective from February 6, 2015 to June 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and major depressive disorder with anxious distress as secondary to service-connected posterior fossa meningioma resection are denied.,The Board has also remanded the claim of service connection for stroke, as it is unclear whether a current diagnosis of stroke exists during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including obtaining medical records, conducting examinations, and addressing service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee condition and major depressive disorder due to a lack of medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The claims will be reviewed again with new evidence.