Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that she is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The claim for increased rating for residuals of SFW of the right lower extremity with Muscle Group (MG) XI damage and with retained foreign bodies (RFBs) was also denied.

The Veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including depression and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracolumbar spinal condition. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, to include depression and anxiety, incurred in or aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was unable to timely file his appeal due to mental health issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depression, but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than major depression.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and special monthly compensation were denied. The lung cancer residuals did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, while the depressive disorder warranted an initial rating of 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD with MDD, which is attributable to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions on whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his military service. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination and provide any additional records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his depressive disorder is not related to service. The claim for secondary service connection for depressive disorder due to coronary artery disease will be remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected disease or injury, and also to consider the TDIU claim in light of this new information.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder prior to January 9, 2009 was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, sleep disturbances, tearfulness, irritability, and social withdrawal. Total impairment was not shown.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from August 30, 2001 to April 15, 2012. The symptoms were not severe enough to warrant an increased rating.

The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance or render him housebound, thus he is entitled to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development and lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, but reopened the claim of service connection for a back disorder. Service connection was not established for any condition.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inextricably intertwined issues.