Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's character of discharge for the period from June 12, 2004, to October 2, 2007, constitutes a bar to VA benefits.,Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and PTSD) is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hip disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the claim for recurrent bacterial vaginosis.,Service connection is being remanded for recurrent bacterial vaginosis due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service stressors and their impact on his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's MDD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not result in significant deficiencies in most areas. A 50% disability rating is granted for the period from July 30, 2009 to July 30, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing military personnel records and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's service in the Air Force National Guard is now considered active service based on a grant of tinnitus. A VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD, including whether it was caused by an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected right shoulder disability, GERD, and other physical disabilities. The TDIU claim is remanded pending the rating of her acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with an increased 70 percent rating for PTSD/depressive disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors occurred during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder with anxiety) and remanded the issue of service connection for gastroparesis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, sleep apnea, headaches, and dizziness.,VA must provide further development to address these issues, including obtaining private medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with unspecified stressor and trauma related disorder is rated at 30 percent, but the examiner noted intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as chronic sleep impairment, panic attacks once or twice a week, irritability, anxiety, and depressed mood.,Service connection for musculoskeletal neck/upper back (cervical spine) with degenerative arthritis is remanded, potentially secondary to service-connected right shoulder disorder and ankle disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to September 2, 2018. His full-time employment as a construction worker was above the poverty threshold and not in a protected environment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 100 percent for OCD, with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, and panic disorder is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbar spondylolisthesis (back disability) prior to October 23, 2020, and 100 percent thereafter remains pending.

The Board dismissed the appeals for an increased rating for a right knee disability and for revising a prior decision regarding service connection for depressive disorder based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's MDD was granted a rating of 70 percent from June 21, 2017 to December 6, 2023. A higher rating is denied for the period after December 7, 2023.

The Veteran's GAD with MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 50% rating from July 15, 2007 to December 18, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors did not actually occur. The Board granted service connection for depression/MDD based on credible evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service.