Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to clarify his diagnoses and determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and major depressive disorder is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise that the current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including combat stressors experienced during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on all issues except nonservice-connected pension, which was also withdrawn.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the January 2015 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will obtain additional medical records, conduct a psychiatric examination, and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The issue of service connection for bilateral pressure-induced otalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, right knee condition, brain condition, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran's treatment records need to be obtained, including VA and private records from before 1998.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (depression and fibromyalgia) prevent her from maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, and for bruxism on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to January 8, 2018 and at 20 percent thereafter. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent.,Service connection for persistent depressive disorder was remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to her service-connected right wrist tenosynovitis and depression preventing her from obtaining substantially gainful employment. The initial disability rating for the right wrist tenosynovitis remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to her service-connected right wrist tenosynovitis and depression preventing her from obtaining substantially gainful employment. The initial disability rating for the right wrist tenosynovitis remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are not related to his active duty service and are more likely due to post-military depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's depression is related to his service. The claim will be reviewed again after a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine DDD and DJD, lumbar spine DDD status post fusion, or headache syndrome with migraine features. The issues regarding radiculopathy, special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria, and TDIU have been remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, facial disfigurement with scars, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. The claim is remanded to assign an initial rating and effective date for the newly established service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and granted a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at the highest possible disability level.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues of PTSD, depression, sleeplessness, inability to concentrate, and sexual disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate cancer, sleep disorder, erectile dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected disability, PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. The claims are remanded for further development.