Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorder, strokes, and major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and left eye macula condition are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service, with two private physicians finding a link between the disabilities and service while one VA examiner did not. Service treatment records show mental health issues during service, and both private physicians found current diagnoses were secondary to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, schizophrenia and dysthymia (originally claimed as depression), due to new evidence showing a possible link between his military service and these conditions. The case is remanded for further development, including verification of periods of active duty and ACDUTRA, and for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left shoulder disorders in conjunction with the right knee disorder, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 19, 2011.

The Board has restored service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than MDD, including PTSD. The decision is based on the Veteran's inconsistent statements regarding his pre-service history of depression.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and PTSD. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for skin rashes and sciatica are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, left hand arthritis, and bilateral shoulder disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are etiologically related to an in-service assault. The claims of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder (including Sleep Apnea) and right ankle disorder remain pending.

Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper left and right extremities is restored, with an effective date from June 4, 2013.,The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for depressive disorder NOS (including PTSD) is denied.

The Veteran's depression is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has found that he is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his disability. The case is remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and whether any overlapping symptoms are attributable to Parkinson's disease.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a right leg skin condition are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have at least as likely as not prevented her from engaging in substantially gainful employment since November 21, 2011. The Board finds TDIU is warranted as of November 21, 2011 based on the evidence currently of record.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for major depression and a TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted as service connected due to in-service traumatic events.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as he did not serve in combat and has no credible verified stressor. The claim for secondary service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features is granted due to aggravation by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with intermittent explosive disorder and cannabis use disorder is rated at 70 percent since February 19, 2016. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted from the same date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records from Dr. K.U. and to schedule a VA examination.