Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has expanded the claim to include an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's previous diagnosis of PTSD in 1993 is not confirmed and a remand is required for a VA examination to clarify his current diagnosis and determine if it is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for depression and unspecified anxiety disorder due to procedural errors in obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting an initial rating of 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to readjudicate her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no new and relevant evidence since the March 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the relevant appellate period, warranting a 100% evaluation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Illness Anxiety Disorder, care-seeking type; Alcohol Use Disorder, mild; and Other Specified Depressive Disorder, results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. However, his symptoms do not more closely approximate the level required for a higher rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of CUE, as the April 2007 rating decision considered all relevant evidence at that time.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective July 2, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's migraines and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder were granted service connection, but an initial rating greater than 30 percent for migraines was denied. A compensable rating (greater than zero percent) for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome with major depressive-like episode, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected left wrist and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for other specified depressive disorder with associated anxiety and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted, with effective dates set at February 1, 1995.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder is granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective from August 22, 2019.

The Board has found that the March 2021 rating decision, which denied a higher rating for PTSD, had a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development and an adequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for PTSD with MDD prior to January 17, 2020 and from January 17, 2020. The evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 17, 2020 or in excess of 50 percent since then.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to confirm his presence in Vietnam or within 12 nautical miles of it during his overseas service, and then determine if he was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The special monthly compensation claim is also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has found a duty to assist error due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.