Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 100 percent rating for major depression was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to suggest total occupational and social impairment prior to May 1, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for established eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was also denied. The effective date cannot precede the date permanent and total disability was awarded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder. The Veteran was also requested to provide information about his prior treatment from SSA.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed (including depressive disorder and psychosis), manifested as a result of his active military service. As such, the criteria for establishing entitlement to service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if there is a qualifying chronic disability manifested by generalized muscle and joint pain, as well as to address the psychiatric claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 8, 2006 for the award of TDIU benefits. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety is rated at 30 percent since January 14, 2013. His low back disability is rated at 20 percent since November 25, 2009, and his neck disability is also rated at 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records from the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and depression, as well as his claim for a TDIU, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension or a rating in excess of 50 percent for depression.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease, was rated at 30 percent since January 30, 2006. The current rating is appropriate given the symptoms and impairment described.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed major depression disorder is related to his period of service or secondary to his service-connected migraine headache disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing records and incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep disorder, insomnia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, and residuals of fractured nose are being remanded.

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

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and referring the case for extraschedular consideration, is necessary.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a date earlier than March 5, 2010.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus are granted service connection as they are related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ascertain the facts surrounding his inservice motorcycle accident of April 7, 1987.

The Board denied service connection for dizziness, headaches and/or memory loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hearing loss. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the Veteran's service stressors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which may include PTSD, depression, or dysthymia, based on in-service personal assault.