Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of service connection for PTSD, a neck disorder, and a chronic disorder manifested by headaches, claimed as head injury, brain damage, and mental damage.

The Veteran's service connection for Parkinson’s disease and related disabilities, including dementia and depression, incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, incomplete aphonia, masked facies of the seventh cranial nerve, and erectile dysfunction, is granted with effective dates starting from August 3, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 25, 2015 for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder is being remanded. The issue of entitlement to a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected psychiatric conditions is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include reopening service connection for psychiatric disorders other than adjustment disorder with anxiety, determining current severity of adjustment disorder with anxiety, and evaluating entitlement to TDIU based on adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity due to psychiatric symptomatology. The appeal for a higher initial rating or TDIU has been denied.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and whether it is related to service, as well as any other psychiatric disorder. Updated VA treatment records are also required.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also receives a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from SSA.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than depression) as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected depression alone is of sufficient severity to preclude substantially gainful employment as an auto parts salesman from December 31, 2015, but not earlier.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder (claimed as depression with suicidal tendencies) was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His left ankle strain is also granted, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and need for a new examination using DSM-5 criteria. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is recognized as potentially relevant, but no specific exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange) is mentioned.

The Board granted service connection for chronic mouth ulcers (pemphigus) and bilateral peripheral vascular disease, but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The diagnoses are considered direct rather than due to a presumption or undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotion and conduct, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is found to be attributable to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a mental disorder, including panic disorder and depression.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a retroactive medical opinion regarding when the Veteran was first diagnosed with an acquired psychiatric disorder, as the current evidence is insufficient.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), IBS, and TDIU are all granted. The rating for IBS is increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his depressive disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his depressive disorder under the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria.