Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 70% for his psychiatric disorder is denied. The Board also remanded the issues regarding TDIU prior to and from November 6, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for depression, concluding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service and is instead a result of his own substance abuse.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD, which was previously rated at 50 percent, has been granted. The decision is based on the severity and frequency of PTSD symptoms that have caused occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma is rated at 100% effective March 3, 2021. He also receives SMC for housebound status due to his additional disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, left hip strain, right hip strain, major depressive disorder, right shoulder strain, and urinary urgency with stress incontinence due to pre-decisional error.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, narcolepsy (loss of consciousness), fecal incontinence, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for fecal incontinence was also denied.

The appeal to reduce the rating of major depressive disorder is dismissed because it was a proposed action and not yet a final decision on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining a contemporaneous VA examination and failing to obtain all relevant treatment records, particularly those from private hospitals where the Veteran was hospitalized multiple times for his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder. His TDIU claim was denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities and his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is service connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also service connected.

Service connection is granted for generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right knee disability, left hip disability, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol and cocaine abuse rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment prior to February 11, 2020. The Board granted his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is now rated at 30 percent, which aligns with the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis.,The right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy remains at a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar degenerative joint disease, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressive disorder, peripheral nerve conditions, and right shoulder osteoarthritis preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of a verified in-service stressor, which is necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete records development, including verification of service dates and treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for private treatment records and any stressor information. A VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with major depressive and neurocognitive disorders during the July 2, 2024 Board hearing.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to an earlier effective date for service connection due to a prior decision already adjudicating this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD due to a lack of adequate notice regarding scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran's current left knee disability is denied as there is no evidence showing it began during active service or is otherwise related to in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for MDD with unspecified anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain, and TMJ was denied. The Veteran's seborrhea dermatitis and nephrolithiasis were also denied.