Depression Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee, right eye, and left eye disabilities due to the Veteran's discharge under other than honorable conditions. The Board also remanded issues regarding a right shoulder disability, residuals of deviated septum, skin disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depression).

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, with posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the symptoms more closely approximate a 70 percent rating but not a higher one.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to his service. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, including those from his therapist, and undergo a VA examination to determine if he has any current psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorders was dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal in January 2019.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation as they are consistent with the current 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is related to his service in Vietnam, including witnessing death and serious injury of fellow service members. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues on appeal due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of median sternotomy, depression, left leg fracture, vertigo, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted on November 10, 2016. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is November 10, 2016 and denied earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for chronic sinusitis and a psychiatric disability was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression and anxiety, but denied the claim for increased disability ratings for his lumbar spine strain.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for residuals of a neck injury is denied as the evidence does not support an increased rating.,Service connection for hypertension remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for gastrointestinal disorder (including gastric ulcer, gastroenteritis, polyps, and colonic diverticulosis) remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity remains remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder) remains remanded due to conflicting VA medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded to obtain additional information and records from the Veteran's previous employers, VA medical providers, and SSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, back condition, neck condition, and bilateral SNHL has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder. Tinnitus is also granted as service connected. The claims for back condition, neck condition, and bilateral SNHL are denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for HIV, CAD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service dental procedure and his current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a nervous condition, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further evaluation on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that further development is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be causally related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence did not show deficiencies in most areas.