Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, fatigue and lethargy is remanded due to the need for a comprehensive nerve evaluation.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of radiculopathy in both upper and lower extremities are also remanded as current evidence does not provide a clear picture of their severity.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder. The issues of service connection for a low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and migraines are remanded. The Veteran's claim for medical care under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and chronic rhinitis are granted. Service connection is denied for lumbar spine DDD, DA, and left hip disorder.

Service connection for major depressive disorder, headaches aggravated by tinnitus, and cervical spine disorder is granted. A 70% disability rating is assigned effective July 1, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent since May 13, 2014. The Veteran’s lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability remains on appeal as it was raised in conjunction with the increased rating claim for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder but remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and depression due to lack of a clear diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression due to in-service TBI, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim of an initial compensable rating for TBI is also remanded.

The appeal of the Veteran’s claim for service connection for sinusitis is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of his employment status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and alcoholism) have been remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Board requires a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss disability and psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected PTSD and sleep apnea is being remanded. The issue of whether the September 14, 2010 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD was clearly and unmistakably erroneous is also inextricably intertwined with this matter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran was not granted service connection for her claimed psychiatric condition, as there is no evidence that she has a distinct diagnosis of major depressive disorder separate from her already service-connected PTSD. For her hemorrhoids, the Board found that the symptoms were mild or moderate and did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of January 12, 2007. The decision is based on newly received service treatment and personnel records that were not available at the time of the previous denial in September 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with recurrent major depression was granted effective from August 27, 2009. The effective date is based on the receipt of a reopened claim in September 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as part of the same appeal.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with major depression has been granted a 50 percent evaluation since July 22, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, MDD, and bipolar disorder are remanded due to the need to corroborate his in-service stressors. The claim for service connection of OSA as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is held in abeyance pending development.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.