Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and tinnitus due to incomplete records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any missing SSD records, medical records from the March 2011 hospitalization, and complete service personnel records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated 70 percent disabling, and the Board denied an increased rating. The low back disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, panic disorder, and depression, is granted service connection. The neck disability claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected depression, migraine headaches with cervical myofascial pain, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related. The claim for service connection for depression is granted. The evaluations for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus remain at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective April 29, 2013. The rating was increased from a previous 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, a cognitive disorder and PTSD based on combat exposure and/or alleged military sexual trauma (MST), as well as his claim for service connection for hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that any current psychiatric disability was incurred in or caused by military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The claim for an initial rating more than 30 percent for major depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected back disability and depression, which render him unemployable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, hiatal hernia, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The cases are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases in its previous decision, specifically regarding the relationship between service-connected depression and the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but he believes it should be higher. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and remanded for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD, were not caused by service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that an in-service event caused the current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus denied reopening of the claim.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee disability based on new and material evidence. However, further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right knee condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder is granted, and the claim for increased rating for malaria is remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, as was his request for increased disability ratings. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service, herbicide exposure, or his pre-existing conditions.