Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 13, 2022. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again with a focus on potential MST and other related conditions.

The Board has granted a 70% rating for the Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, effective December 1, 2017. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, adjustment and depressive disorders, is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his condition. The examiner must consider the Veteran's in-service stressor and post-service symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his obesity, which may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and hypertension prior to March 6, 2012 are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 6, 2012, for service connection for a psychiatric disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because he failed to appear without good cause for the necessary VA examination.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus are granted as due to herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection for thrombocytopenia is denied, while depression secondary to ischemic heart disease is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, to include depression and anxiety, has been granted. The remaining claims related to his knees have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to deficiencies in the previous medical opinions, particularly regarding whether any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and bipolar condition with depression due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were aggravated by military service or related to any incident during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The Board grants a rating of 70 percent for the acquired psychiatric disorder and grants a rating of 50 percent for headaches.

The Veteran's initial 70 percent evaluation for depressive disorder is granted, effective September 27, 2014. The Veteran also receives a TDIU rating beginning the same date.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent disability rating prior to September 4, 2018 and TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding his diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to verify the appellant's reported stressors related to his PTSD and to obtain his complete service treatment records. The claims for right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities are also remanded as VA examinations are required.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is granted service connection. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for various conditions.,Issues related to the rating of disabilities are also addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of overlapping symptoms between his TBI, depression, and PTSD.