Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to service and the Board has granted her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, TDIU, and hypertension was granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is November 19, 2009, as this is when the Veteran initially filed his claim. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is also November 19, 2009. Service connection for hypertension was granted on a direct basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound criteria as it is a duplicate of a previous decision.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 3, 2011 were denied as the earliest possible effective date is the date of receipt of her claim.,An earlier effective date for service connection was not granted due to lack of a formal or informal claim within one year of discharge from service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, breast cancer, and lymphedema are all found to be service-connected. However, the claim for depression secondary to breast cancer is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's bilateral foot condition, breast cancer, and lymphedema as a result of her breast cancer treatment.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating for depressive disorder and service connection for hemorrhoids are being remanded due to the need to obtain his Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD and lumbar spondylosis, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since October 31, 2016. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met on a schedular basis.

Service connection for PTSD and depression is dismissed as the Veteran's claim was granted during the appeal.,Service connection for a left elbow disability (claimed as tennis elbow) is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or in-service occurrence.

The Veteran's claims for a hand condition, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy, and eye disability have been denied. The previously denied claim for bipolar disorder/depression has been readjudicated.,There is no probative evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current conditions began during service or are related to in-service events.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 7, 2019 for the award of a 50% rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (delusional disorder, persecutory type with major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder). The decision is based on the fact that there was no increase in disability prior to this date.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance, but dismissed the claim for SMC based on housebound status due to the grant of SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating prior to March 17, 2020. The effective date for this decision remains pending as the specific effective date was not provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a procedural error in obtaining an examination for expanding the Veteran's claim to include any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran is requested to provide information regarding his claimed stressors and undergo a VA examination to determine if his current mental health conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including her neck condition, left foot ganglion, left knee condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and tinnitus, as well as an increased rating for major depressive disorder, are being remanded. The issue of eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also being addressed.

The Veteran's increased ratings for major depressive disorder with alcohol abuse disorder, tension headaches with dizziness, and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied as he is not unemployable due to a single service-connected disability.