Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on recurrent tinnitus was withdrawn. The Board granted the TDIU claim due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral fibromas, Major Depression and an anxiety disorder secondary to service-connected disability, but denied service connection for arthritis of the chest cavity secondary to service-connected melanoma.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a skin disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various disabilities. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as to assess the severity of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted.,The Veteran's requests to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a bilateral super rectus fader operation, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are granted.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a left ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a right ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of February 22, 2012, but not earlier, for the award of an increased rating to 10 percent for status post left wrist trauma with arthroscopy with triangular fibrocartilage complex is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the award of an increased rating of 10 percent for the right wrist sprain is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left foot trauma is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left knee ACL repair and medial meniscectomy with residual degenerative arthritis is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for chronic cervical strain is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a need for a complete record, including SSA disability records.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The evidence submitted was not considered new and material.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle disability and depression, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 8, 2010. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to August 18, 2011 for the grant of service connection for GERD with insomnia is denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar arthralgia with lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder arthralgia, left shoulder arthralgia, left leg pain, and right leg pain are all pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure) remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for dizziness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) remain pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), claimed as a respiratory condition, remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected chronic hemorrhoids, finding that there is a link between the two conditions and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased rating for mechanical low back pain, service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, and TDIU due to unresolved legal or factual questions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is denied as there is no confirmed diagnosis of a current disability.

The Veteran's heart condition (syncope) is not service connected. The claims for right and left hip disabilities secondary to the back disability are granted, as well as the claim for depressive disorder due to service-connected migraines, knee disabilities, and a back disability. The rating for migraines remains at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or any other theory of service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to assess the current severity of his condition and determine if he should be granted a higher rating or TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hip condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete examinations and lack of etiological opinions.

The Board denied entitlement to agent fees for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from July 2, 2014 to May 26, 2015. The TDIU was granted due to service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence supports the conclusion that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the issues of depression, left lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine fusion with degenerative disc disorder (DDD), osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and a left shoulder rotator cuff injury. The Veteran is also required to be examined for these conditions.