Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and status post meniscectomy with scars, and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claims were previously denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to tinnitus, major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and other physical disabilities. The Board has found that the maximum schedular rating for tinnitus is already assigned, and no extraschedular consideration is warranted.,For his major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, the Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating, but not higher, as it meets the criteria of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to grant service connection at this time.,The Veteran's tinnitus was rated 10% and denied an increased rating. The appeal on this issue is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an eye disability, a kidney disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder due to new and material evidence. The cases are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, secondary to her hysterectomy was granted. The claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability were remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension. The claims of service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition are remanded, as is the claim for service connection for depression.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case and attempts to obtain missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's depression is secondary to his service-connected back disability. The issues of increased ratings for left wrist, lumbosacral spine, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, needs further investigation and evidence collection before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The Board also remanded the issue of an effective date earlier than June 5, 2009 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction were not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) was also not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his left hip, right hip, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, major depressive disorder (MDD), and TDIU. The VA will obtain outstanding records from the Louisville VA Medical Center and schedule a new examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further clarification of her conditions. The SSA records are requested, and an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of pelvic inflammatory disease and hysterectomy.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and panic disorder has been rated at 100 percent since July 24, 2013. The Board found that the symptoms of total occupational and social impairment due to gross impairment in thought processes, memory impairment, inability to concentrate, irritability, angry outbursts, and difficulty establishing effective relationships have been present throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted. Additionally, TDIU is being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the case for an appropriate medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's cocaine use was a secondary disorder caused by his service-connected depression.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing the disability was incurred in or aggravated by service, including consideration of delayed-onset tinnitus.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as major depressive disorder, is also denied because there is no credible evidence linking it to service-connected eczema.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to March 13, 2008. The Board granted TDIU effective May 8, 1986.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need to obtain VA treatment records.