Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depression, is at least as likely as not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically status post resection of lymph node, right neck, with residual painful paresthesias over scar and tinnitus. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold percentage requirement to establish eligibility for TDIU, but his unemployability is being referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's TENS unit and right knee brace caused wear and tear to his clothing, which resulted in a clothing allowance for the year 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, neck disability, and left knee disability. The claim for increased rating of major depressive disorder from December 16, 2003 to July 16, 2013 was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a TDIU examination. The issues are whether he should receive an increased rating for headaches and if he qualifies for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance of another due to his disabilities, including from his back disorder and left ankle fracture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression, is not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been resolved in his favor with the grant of service connection for depressive disorder with dysthymia and sleep problems, and a 50 percent rating effective from July 1, 2010.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) and variously diagnosed to include a depressive disorder, based on new evidence that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of a depressive disorder, which he attributes to his military service.

The Veteran sought TDIU based on his service-connected low back disability and depression. The September 1981 rating decision denied the claim, finding that the objective findings did not warrant an increase in the 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and that the schedular requirements for a TDIU were not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of his left foot disability, and scheduling another VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric condition was incurred in or related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not related to his military service. The Board also finds that the Veteran has depression secondary to PTSD, which may be considered secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD with depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability (dysthymia and major depression) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from March and April 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examination reports to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to determine his eligibility for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.