Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and depression, other than PTSD. Service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer, to include as due to exposure to water at Camp Lejeune.,The Board also denied service connection for depression, as secondary to thyroid cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, as well as his claim for TDIU. The evidence showed current diagnoses of PTSD and MDD but did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with other specified personality disorder has been rated at 100 percent, the maximum schedular rating. As a result, his claim for TDIU is moot.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain a VA examination as requested in previous remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is now pending and will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and right hand injuries, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 31, 2015. From that date onwards, he was granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of all his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's request to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for depression is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include other specified trauma and stress disorder, claimed as PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for aid and attendance is granted, effective September 17, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran has been in need of regular aid and assistance since at least September 11, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and for additional examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bipolar disorder with depression, anxiety, and insomnia have been granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbosacral disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ear hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, left toes stress fracture, and right toes stress fracture are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder with secondary alcohol use disorder, are found to have its onset in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his dyslipidemia and other disabilities are denied. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that a new VA mental disorders examination is necessary due to the inadequacy of previous examinations. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder may be related to childhood trauma, but not service-connected. The left shoulder disability and TDIU issues are also remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for chloracne and an earlier effective date, finding no clear and unmistakable error in their decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and sleep apnea. The appeals are remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent effective February 20, 2021. Prior to that date, the rating was 70 percent.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, nightmare disorder, anxiety, and insomnia/sleep disturbance, is granted as related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, have rendered her unemployable on an extraschedular basis since February 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric condition on a direct basis due to insufficient evidence in the record.