Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, except for a denial of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression, anxiety and PTSD).

The Veteran's headaches are related to a motor vehicle accident during active duty. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, is remanded due to the Veteran's reported incident in service where he believes his drink was spiked. The claim of service connection for hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, high blood pressure, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, and his TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and has remanded his claims for a higher disability rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder due to additional evidentiary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder) due to lack of probative evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death from an accidental overdose of methadone. Further development is needed, including obtaining autopsy and toxicology reports, private treatment records, and a medical advisory opinion.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders are currently rated at 70 percent, effective December 10, 2015. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment. The claim for TDIU based on these conditions was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for certain rating claims and the notice of disagreement regarding service connection was not timely filed.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was found to be incurred in service, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is granted as service connected. The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is denied due to not being aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of current disability. The Board grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, based on a finding that her symptoms are etiologically related to in-service sexual assaults.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and depression have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran has also been awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.,No specific exposure basis was provided for any condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further examination and analysis regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychological disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) and hypertensive vascular disease. The Veteran was provided with two VA examinations which concluded he did not have a DSM diagnosis of PTSD, but a private psychologist opined that he meets criteria for PTSD due to his time served in Southwest Asia where he was exposed to actual or threatened death or injury. For the hypertension claim, the Board finds that a remand is necessary as there are insufficient records to make a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his major depressive disorder without psychotic features due to new evidence added to the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD are granted, while his claims for right hand disability and hypertension are denied. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder and dysthymia with nocturnal enuresis, and PTSD. The claim for PTSD was reopened but denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was granted a 100% rating effective October 10, 2015. However, the claim for PTSD had an earlier effective date of March 21, 2011.,Service connection for hypertension and nerve damage to fingers were remanded.

The reduction in the Veteran’s rating for residuals of TBI from 10 percent to 0 percent was improper, and the prior rating is restored.,The criteria for an effective date earlier than October 17, 2014, for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depression are not met.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s PTSD with major depression meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating.