Depression Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew all his claims on appeal, including the increased rating and initial rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed to determine if he meets the schedular requirements or if extra-schedular TDIU should be considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all pending claims before the Board.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically his unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The examination should address whether these conditions are related to service or events that occurred during service, as well as whether they are proximately due to or aggravated by his hernia disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain necessary VA medical examinations and opinions for the issues of service connection for a left lower extremity disorder and a higher initial rating for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and the reduction of his prostate cancer rating from 100% to noncompensable was found to be proper.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's VA and private treatment records, as well as his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits file. The case will be remanded for a new addendum opinion from the same examiner who provided the April 2015 VA addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and personnel records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence is sufficient to establish that his left and right ear hearing loss are related to service, with aggravation beyond normal progression of the disease by noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD, MDD and depression NOS are at least as likely as not related to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's psychiatric and back disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without showing good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected depression with anxiety disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The initial compensable ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and left shoulder scar, as well as the increased rating for recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder with traumatic arthritis, were not granted. The claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records, specifically psychiatric and substance abuse records.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was manifested by symptoms consistent with occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from June 29, 2016. The disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms were not severe enough to warrant a 70 percent or higher evaluation.

The Board found insufficient credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and concluded that his current psychiatric disorders are not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran requested to terminate his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU, effective upon receipt of the withdrawal request in June 2016.