Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, entitlement to a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 1, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms have remained constant and warrant a 50 percent rating. However, the issue of whether acne is part of his service-connected PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to herbicide exposure has been reopened, and service connection is granted. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment for service-connected major depressive disorder was dismissed as moot because he already received a 100% rating for this condition effective October 30, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder due to insufficient information in the December 2016 VA examiner's opinion. The examiner did not provide a clear determination on whether the Veteran’s depression is directly related to service or secondary to his cervical spine disability, and their conclusion that it was more likely caused by alcohol dependence during a separate examination is not supported by the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to his MOS as a military police officer in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and loss of use of his left hand resulted in a combined disability rating of 80 percent, qualifying for TDIU. The Veteran is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating for depressive disorder effective April 11, 2014, and TDIU effective June 25, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pulmonary embolism has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, a generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of status post right knee arthroscopy has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis from April 4, 2017, has been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right foot calcaneal spur, closed fracture fifth left metatarsal base, lumbar myositis, nose surgery/rhinitis, right inguinal herniorrhaphy, and depression due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression warrant a 50 percent disability rating from the time service connection was granted.,As of January 11, 2017, the Veteran’s disability picture associated with his anxiety and depression warranted a 70 percent disability rating.,The Veteran is entitled to TDIU as of January 11, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and the cause of his diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran will need to provide more specific details about these events, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected right knee disabilities, including back and left knee conditions. The Board has determined that further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

Service connection is granted for irritable bowel syndrome. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleeplessness (undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness), depression, and jaw disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and right foot disorders have been reopened, as new evidence has been submitted that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims.,Service connection for OSA and ED are granted as they are found to be secondary to service-connected PTSD with depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depression is related to his service, specifically his deployment following the 9/11 attacks. As a result, the claim for service connection for depression is granted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and post-traumatic stress disorder with depression and anxiety have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an SSOC considering all evidence of record, including his Vocational Rehabilitation folder.

The claim for service connection for depression is granted. The claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD.