Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to the use of a wheelchair, medication for a skin disorder, and wrist braces. The reasons include that none of these conditions are service-connected, or if they were, their use does not benefit other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted service connection. The rating for migraines remains remanded as a new examination is needed to assess the severity of his headaches. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined relationship with the migraine issue.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of March 22, 2017. The evidence is in relative equipoise whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depressive and major depressive disorders with psychotic features, finding that the onset of these conditions occurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was denied as the appeal was untimely filed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for CAD prior to November 12, 2015 was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition met the criteria for a 30 percent rating.,An increased rating of 60 percent for CAD from November 12, 2015 was granted based on the evidence showing that his condition met the criteria for this rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's claims regarding his back condition and acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Board found that her symptoms meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and their relation to her in-service experiences. A new examination is required.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating since February 27, 2009. The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified neurocognitive disorder, depression and anxiety, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is denied as not related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and SSA records needing to be obtained. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed for each issue.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The remaining issues have been REMANDED for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Other Specified Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are best captured by this diagnosis and were likely caused by in-service stressors.

The Veteran's mood disorder with depression is rated at 70 percent effective as of March 24, 2014. The rating remains unchanged for the entire appeal period.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon cancer. The issues of service connection for depression, removal of a cyst, sleep apnea, adult onset vitelliform macular dystrophy, and renal cell carcinoma are REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's death was ruled a suicide by drowning, and the VA has determined that his service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board found no evidence linking any in-service psychiatric condition to his later depression and suicide.