Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to properly evaluate his TBI and its impact on his psychiatric symptoms, including hallucinations and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, has been reopened. However, the Board has remanded this issue due to new evidence received since April 2012. The claim of service connection for high blood pressure (hypertension) is denied as it did not initially manifest within a year of discharge from service or be related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder. The claim of service connection for left knee disability is reopened, but remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Hepatitis C has been withdrawn.,The claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for iliac nerve damage caused by VA surgical treatment in December 2008 is denied as the evidence does not show that the additional disability was proximately caused by negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his unspecified depressive disorder associated with bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now receiving a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary major depressive disorder is rated at 100% from June 30, 2010 to February 23, 2012. The Veteran's ulcers are rated at 20% from June 30, 2010 to November 28, 2011 and denied for an increased rating in excess of 20%. SMC is granted under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) from June 30, 2010 to February 23, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder, Retrobulbar Neuritis of the Left Eye, and Migraine Headaches have been rated at 50%, 30%, and 30% respectively. The Board has granted a 70% rating for Major Depressive Disorder for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia was denied, and his claim for TDIU was granted effective November 10, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for high blood pressure has been remanded due to incomplete STRs and the need for private treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, including cellulitis, boils and blisters, has been remanded due to inaccurate factual premises in the July 2015 VA examination and the need for an opinion on whether his skin condition is secondary to diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, has been remanded due to the July 2015 examiner's failure to consider the Veteran's contentions regarding combat-related nightmares and delayed treatment.

The Veteran's depression is being remanded for a new examination to determine if it is related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically his total knee replacements and back disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and for additional development of his claims, including for service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as claustrophobia), and residuals of a right hand laceration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis and remands for further development on other issues including sleep apnea, tension headaches, and PTSD.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective November 3, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at the highest schedular rating of 50 percent, effective June 27, 2018.,Prior to this date, the Veteran had a 30 percent rating from August 11, 2017 through June 26, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including depressive disorder NOS, right-hand disability, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left-hand disability, bilateral hip disability, and left-knee disability. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The claim for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew all pending issues, including service connection for asthma, hypertension, and the effective date of depression.