Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current depression and her active military service.

The Veteran's low back strain disability has been rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis and functional loss.,For his major depressive disorder, the Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease. The case was remanded for further development regarding the increased rating claim and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for hypertension, and denied all other claims due to lack of a causal relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted. The issue of whether he has a current psychiatric condition related to service is remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the May 2014 rating decision. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to lower back and major depressive disorder disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's scars, disfigurement of the head, neck, and face as residuals of cystic acne are granted a 50% rating from September 3, 2009. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and adjustment disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information about his education and employment history, as well as the need for updated VA treatment records and a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected back and neck disabilities. The claim for sleep disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a separate sleep or fatigue disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran must undergo a medical examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to in-service stressors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and unspecified psychotic disorder. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for his lower back, cervical spine, acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), and headaches. The claim for bilateral foot disability has not met the criteria for reopening.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including coronary arteriosclerosis, hypertension, depression, headaches, peripheral vascular disease, and neuropathy. The VA will obtain relevant Social Security Administration records and arrange for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's coronary arteriosclerosis.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart condition, bilateral lung condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II), and bilateral kidney condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II).

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's injuries, finding that they were due to his own willful misconduct during a February 1985 altercation.

The Veteran's right knee disability status post total knee replacement is rated at 60 percent, effective from December 1, 2010. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his inability to work due to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the May 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,New evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.