Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records and for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, an increased rating for service-connected anxiety and headaches, and earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his only current diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is adjustment disorder, which was not caused or aggravated by service-connected residuals of frostbite injury to the feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for further development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and providing proper notice regarding unavailable service treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the Veteran's service connection claim for major depression, finding that new and material evidence was received prior to the expiration of the appeal period. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a new claim of CUE in the December 1974 rating decision, and his TDIU claim is deferred until that issue is resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran timely filed a substantive appeal for his claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD with night sweats, stress, helplessness, problems concentrating, depression and fatigue; headaches to include as secondary to PTSD; and sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD. As such, these claims are now ready for further adjudication.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, secondary to hearing loss and tinnitus, is currently evaluated at 10%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and neck strain with degenerative changes, are found to be of sufficient severity to produce unemployability. However, the VA examiner did not make the ultimate determination of whether the combined impact of the Veteran's disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas beginning July 29, 2012. A higher initial rating is granted for the period through June 11, 2014, and a 70 percent rating is assigned for the period beginning June 12, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service mental health treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are to be evaluated based on their relation to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an increased rating has been denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address service connection claims for a low back disability and variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD. The Veteran's accounts of stressors in service will be verified, and medical opinions will be obtained regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The claims related to bronchial asthma and sleep apnea are still pending.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examiner's opinion on the mental health claim and determining if any visual disability is related to service-connected hydrocephalus with associated headaches.

The Board has received notification that the appellant wishes to withdraw their appeal regarding right knee cap dislocation, right shin scarring, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification on the appellant's representative, additional information regarding last expenses paid by her, and adjudication of the Veteran's widow's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service.