Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been added to the record, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the current medical evidence is insufficient to establish a link between the Veteran's psychiatric disability and his in-service appendectomy, and thus remands for further examination and opinion.

The Board's decision granting SMC for statutory housebound during the period beginning October 17, 2011 is vacated. The TDIU issue prior to November 21, 2018 is remanded.

The Veteran's neck disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective June 14, 2016. The Board has remanded the issue of a higher rating for his cervical spine disability.,Effective June 14, 2016, service connection was granted for depressive disorder associated with a neck disability and migraine headaches associated with a neck disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and right hip disabilities are rated at their maximum levels, and no earlier effective date is granted for the PTSD rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's discharge from active duty was not for a service-connected disability, and thus he is not excluded from the minimum active-duty service requirement. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on whether any preexisting disabilities would have justified a discharge.

The Veteran's atherosclerosis is presumed to be related to his service due to exposure to herbicides.,The Veteran's stroke residuals are considered 'but-for' of his service-connected atherosclerosis.,The Veteran's seizures are considered 'but-for' of his service-connected stroke residuals.,The Veteran's left ischemic optic neuropathy is considered 'but-for' of his service-connected stroke residuals.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder is considered 'but-for' of his service-connected stroke residuals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but the Court remanded it to consider an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depression.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depression, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include depression and anxiety, is remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted an initial 10 percent rating effective September 29, 2017.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and hypertension have all been granted with effective dates of September 29, 2017.,Service connection for a left knee disability has not been established.,Service connection for a right knee disability has not been established.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart disorder, finding no in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for loss of voice and service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a temporary total evaluation because of hospital treatment in excess of 21 days for a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further development. Specifically, the VA needs to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam, provide a new examination to address the medical nexus between hepatitis C and hypertension, and clarify the nature of any other conditions claimed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss was related to service. The decision on this issue remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU effective August 1, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for PTSD/depression prior to October 15, 2012, and the effective dates of SMC and DEA benefits is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete private treatment records and will conduct further development, including seeking additional stressor corroboration/research and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized as dysthymic disorder and persistent depressive disorder, has been granted an initial 50 percent evaluation since December 1, 2004. The rating is effective from the date of the March 2013 rating decision.