Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease, erectile dysfunction (claimed as penile condition), depressive disorder secondary to PTSD, and sleep disturbances are all granted. Anxiety is denied due to being a symptom of other conditions. The Veteran also receives an initial evaluation of 70% for his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, due to insufficient credible evidence establishing a claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating evaluations. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of bilateral hearing loss, gastric cancer, arrhythmia, high cholesterol, liver cancer, chloracne, and a psychiatric disorder (depression) are being addressed again.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been denied. His TDIU claim is granted, and his service connection claim for colon cancer due to herbicide exposure is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 70% effective March 1, 2016. The decision is based on the fact that his symptoms worsened and met the criteria for a 70% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a new one.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral hip disorder and depression. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service, particularly the alleged sexual assault.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further adjudication of the issue regarding an increased rating for lumbar strain, including consideration of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in reducing the disability rating from 20% to 10%. The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and obstructive sleep apnea are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to its current severity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are supported by evidence and there is a positive nexus between his current diagnoses and his service.

Service connection is granted for depressive disorder and headaches as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,Service connection is granted for left shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD), right shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD), left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes), residuals of a right eye injury, and unspecified allergy disorder.,Service connection is granted for left shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD) and right shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD).,Service connection is granted for left knee disorder and right knee disorder.,Service connection is granted for left hip disorder and right hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression.

The claims for PTSD and MDD have been remanded due to the submission of additional VA treatment records since the May 2017 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are found to be related to his military service and granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and initial evaluations are not fully resolved due to procedural issues or lack of evidence supporting the requested increases. The case is therefore remanded for further action.

The Veteran's headaches and major depressive disorder are found to be service-connected.