Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected lower back disability due to conflicting evidence of record regarding when the Veteran's psychiatric disability began.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is granted, while his claims for bilateral hearing loss and right tibia strain are denied. The initial rating for post-laminectomy syndrome of the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent, and the initial ratings for PTSD and major depressive disorder remain at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressors. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The appeals for service connection for mesothelioma, a head injury, and depression have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors related to military sexual trauma (MST) and a need for additional development regarding the Veteran's service dates.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, finding that they were aggravated by his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment from April 11, 2014 to November 6, 2017.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left wrist laceration that occurred during his military service, which he claims was caused by suicide attempts due to untreated psychiatric problems. The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the laceration is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, and low back disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating prior to March 24, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is related to his active military service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve, left sciatic nerve, hemorrhoids, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, kidney stones, lip numbness, and gastrointestinal disorders have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further adjudication due to issues being inextricably intertwined and not yet addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depression, and anxiety was granted. However, his claim for hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and alcoholism due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends his depression is secondary to insomnia, a service-connected condition, and his alcoholism is secondary to his depression.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent disabling and earlier effective date for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including anxiety disorder, other unspecified depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder. The VA needs to obtain updated treatment records, corroborate stressors related to his service, and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, sleep issues (including sleep apnea), right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right and left foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.