Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for prostate cancer has been dismissed.,The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, and right shoulder disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD prior to January 9, 2018. A higher rating is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent beginning January 9, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding a link between his combat-related stressors and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder manifests in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, was granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were reopened due to new evidence received since the prior denial in November 1990.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for brain tumors, seizures, heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), prostate cancer, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of conditions, verification of stressors, and etiology.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for various conditions have been denied. The claims of service connection for a back condition, cervical spine condition, tinnitus, and depression are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder was denied because the evidence did not establish a relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression is granted. The claim for insomnia is denied. Service connection for sleep apnea is also denied. Initial compensable ratings are granted for enterocolitis (Crohn's Disease) and anal fistula disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, squamous cell carcinoma, and sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for basal cell skin cancer and an acquired psychiatric condition (including MDD and PTSD). The Veteran's initial rating for kidney stone disability is now 30 percent.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records, including those related to his eye and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran must also provide lay statements from himself and others regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a 40% rating for his lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease. The separate 20% rating for right sciatic nerve radiculopathy is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depression and PTSD, was due to an in-service assault and MST. Therefore, service connection for depression and PTSD with anxiety and sleep disorder is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (to include depression) as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy should be remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives and potential issues related to Hurricane Maria.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since June 2016. The Board is remanding the case to determine if a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted based on his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and headaches (tension headaches) are granted service connection. The Veteran's left arm condition and right arm condition are denied as not incurred during service. The Veteran's back condition is also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with persistent depressive disorder was denied for ratings in excess of 30 percent prior to May 23, 2017 and on or after May 23, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted total disability rating based on individual unemployability.