Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left knee replacements and limited range of motion in the left ankle, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His acquired psychiatric disability is also service connected as secondary to his orthopedic conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and preparing an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to address whether any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for depression and anxiety, and it is denied. The Veteran's claims for PTSD are also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since August 26, 2014.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than March 10, 2008 for the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is denied.

The Board found insufficient credible supporting evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor of military sexual trauma and concluded that her current psychiatric disorders are not causally or etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, Asperger's syndrome, and depressive disorder, has been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder was not manifested during her active military service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to her active military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of low back disability, left lower extremity numbness, right lower extremity numbness, and left upper extremity numbness. The initial evaluation for fracture of the right little finger was granted with a 10% rating. Service connection for TBI prior to October 23, 2008, and PTSD since that date were both granted with increased ratings. Finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted prior to December 20, 2010. Special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status (SMC/HB) was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and hypertensive heart disease have been granted, but the rating for hypertensive heart disease remains at 30 percent. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is found to be incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for panic disorder with agoraphobia, anxiety disorder, PTSD and depression. The case is remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at Jackson RO.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease, lung disorder, and depression as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's heart disease was not related to his near drowning episode in service, but is due to smoking history. His COPD is also due to smoking history. The Board found that the Veteran's depression is secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining all outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including rating adjustments for various disabilities, an effective date claim for TDIU, and a need for additional medical examinations. The case is being remanded to obtain these necessary steps.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for low back arthritis was denied in October 1995 and reopened due to new evidence. The Board has now granted service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease. His major depressive disorder is rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines.

The Board has granted an initial 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for the adjustment disorder, as well as service connection for a right ankle and foot disability, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the appellant's psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his ACDUTRA service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's cystic kidney disease was granted an initial noncompensable rating, but a compensable rating of 30% is assigned. Service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder was also granted.