Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical scar claim is denied, and the psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's MDD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent, and his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder due to inadequate examination and failure to consider private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims due to errors in duty to assist, including failure to obtain mental health and clinical records from service and private treatment records. The Veteran's left knee disability is also being examined for etiology.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's PDD is rated at 70 percent, also effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, depressive disorder, and insomnia disorder are being remanded due to the need for new medical opinions addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and psychiatric disabilities are currently pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities and chronic pain associated with them. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and depressive disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression were initially rated at 30 percent, but the Board granted a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety; and sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for major depressive disorder and TDIU is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. A new VA examination is needed for the major depressive disorder claim, and the AOJ must develop and adjudicate the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with anxiety), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and bad teeth are all granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s), including PTSD. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate anxiety, but there is no clear evidence that his pre-existing mental health issues were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, have been readjudicated due to new evidence received after the prior denial.,Service connection has been granted for both the left knee disability and the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric condition, finding that the disability warranted no more than a 50 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder was incurred in service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, psychosis, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar, and major depression, is being reviewed on a de novo basis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected. The right knee and back disabilities are remanded for further examination.