Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's baseline disability evaluation for Major Depressive Disorder was found to be improper, and the effective evaluation is established as zero percent.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness, migraines, major depressive disorder (MDD), and sleep apnea. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding his in-service exposure to chemicals and subsequent symptoms.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective November 6, 2012, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Board determined that the severance of service connection for a depressive disorder was proper, and thus dismissed the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, but he does not have at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more. The Board has referred his TDIU claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected knee disabilities, tinnitus, and depression.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo on a secondary basis to his service-connected hearing loss. The claim of depression is remanded as the Veteran did not undergo a VA examination and the AOJ must schedule one.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer, status post radical retropubic prostatectomy with bilateral lymphadectomy. The Veteran's other specified depressive disorder is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD and anxiety is remanded due to uncertainty regarding the current diagnosis of PTSD. A VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed condition is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination and additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, best characterized as major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disability. However, it denied service connection for a right hip disorder, currently diagnosed as right hip strain, on the basis that there was no evidence of its onset during service or being caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hair loss and depression, finding that both conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service due to willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than anxiety disorder, to include PTSD and Major Depression Disorder. The Veteran's PTSD is based on an established in-service stressor involving combat-related sniper attacks during his Vietnam service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, depressive disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected comminuted left tibia fracture with shortened left leg. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, depression, and sleep apnea have been granted. The claim for hyperlipidemia is denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for residuals, anterior cruciate ligament repair, left knee, and degenerative changes, left knee are denied.

The Board has decided to remand several issues, including the rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), left hip disability, and TDIU. The decision also requires a new VA examination for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,A TDIU claim has also been identified as being inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher staged initial ratings for depression, entitlement to SMC by reason of being housebound, and entitlement to a TDIU are inextricably intertwined with his earlier effective date claim. As such, these issues must be remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and exposure to contaminated water at Parris Island, South Carolina.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with psychotic features was denied. The Board found that total occupational and social impairment, as required for a 100% rating, has not been shown. The issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA are remanded due to the potential impact on these decisions.