Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder, results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for redundant penile skin with corrective surgery for hypospadia, headaches, erectile dysfunction, multiple sclerosis, and depression. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (redundant penile skin) while others were not (headaches, erectile dysfunction, multiple sclerosis, depression).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of December 11, 2013. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD from February 26, 2010 through September 29, 2013 was denied. A 70 percent rating for PTSD from September 30, 2013 to February 17, 2014 was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to April 25, 2016 and denied for a higher rating. From April 25, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent and denied for a higher rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his service. However, due to incomplete records and need for further examination, the case is being remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder causes occupational and social impairment in most areas, as contemplated by the current 70 percent rating. The Board denied an increased rating to 100 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination. The Veteran's hypertension, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are all being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current conditions are not related to his military service or pre-existing personality disorders aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus and depression claims are also remanded due to lack of a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, residuals of a stroke, and depression secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The decision also remanded the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for glioblastoma multiforme stage 4 brain cancer is remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether lung cancer caused or aggravated the brain cancer.

The Veteran's rating for PTSD and depressive disorder was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective April 1, 2015. The reduction was improper due to failure to comply with applicable law and regulations. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression to include residuals of TBI was granted, effective March 10, 2013.

The claim of service connection for a low back disability and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran's mental health condition may be related to his in-service history, but further examination is needed to determine its exact cause.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness, including Meniere's syndrome. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and depressive disorder are remanded due to new evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disorder, bilateral pes planus (flatfoot), and hypertension have been denied. The appeal is considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Schizophrenia, and Depression due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.