Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder in remission, has prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow such an occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The Veteran reported in-service stressors, including unwanted advances and disciplinary actions, which may be related to her current psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder (other specified anxiety disorder and other specified depressive disorder) is found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death due to acute intoxication from fentanyl and cocaine. The Board granted the claim for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is caused by his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his primary disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 2, 2018, for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The most probative evidence showed that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was due to his psychiatric disability rather than his spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, major depressive disorder, and disability manifested by insomnia due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The AOJ will obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician to address all relevant lay and medical evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but not more, for major depressive disorder is granted. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted. The claims for service connection for TBI and dizziness are remanded.

The Board has decided that the cause of the Veteran's death, Parkinson's disease, is not service-connected. The issues regarding whether his major depressive disorder with anxiety and panic attacks contributed to his death are also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent effective October 23, 2008. The Board also granted a TDIU from February 25, 2009.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and sleep disturbances due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right wrist condition, left knee chondromalacia patella, and right knee chondromalacia patella are all rated at the maximum allowed under current criteria. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, lymph node cancer as secondary to prostate cancer, and depression as secondary to prostate cancer due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's unspecified bipolar and related disorder, as well as her PTSD with secondary MDD, both of which are found to have onset during her period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and are linked to an in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective April 10, 2020. This is the earliest date it could be due to his service-connected PTSD and within one year prior to when he filed his VA Form 21-8940.

The Board denied an earlier effective date prior to September 19, 2011 for the assignment of a rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine and in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's back disability is not service-connected, and has remanded his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and depression due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has found that the VA Regional Office did not obtain relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which may be pertinent to the Veteran's claims. The appeal is being remanded to obtain these SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hearing loss, tinnitus, breathing condition, left knee and leg, right knee and leg, mental condition (depression, anxiety relationship concerns, nightmares), skin condition on legs, and swelling in feet have all been denied.,There is no indication of service connection being granted for any of the claimed conditions.