Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed mental health disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with adjustment disorder mixed anxiety and depression in August 2018, but he reported having PTSD at his hearing.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a presumptive condition due to herbicide agent exposure. The claim for service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension prior to August 10, 2022, is remanded.

The Veteran's MDD was granted a 70 percent disability rating prior to December 6, 2016.,From December 6, 2016, the Veteran received a 100 percent disability rating for his MDD until August 3, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder has been denied. The current rating adequately reflects the severity and impairment caused by the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim will be further developed, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions including bilateral knee and ankle conditions, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including a functional assessment of his service-connected disabilities and review of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and skin cancer were denied as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as major depressive disorder with general anxiety, is related to his active-duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for depression and insomnia because the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability that meets DSM criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depression, related to traumatic experiences during active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders, but granted a 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claims for service connection of a low back condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and anxiety), and left ear hearing loss. However, the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes in any of these cases.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining and verifying the Veteran's service stressors, as well as SSA records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's TBI with Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 70 percent since March 16, 2022. A separate 10 percent rating for vertigo associated with service-connected TBI is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's deviated septum should be remanded.

The Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in October 2022 resulted in the denial of his claim for TDIU prior to March 28, 2017.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, as secondary to major depressive disorder was dismissed because the issue has become moot due to an August 2022 rating decision that granted service connection. The TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran is not unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for major depression was granted, with an effective date of April 8, 2010. The Veteran also received a TDIU based on his service-connected major depression.,Both the initial rating and TDIU were granted at a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied. The case for hepatitis C is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from Social Security Administration and relevant private treatment records. The issues include service connection for a skin disability (psoriasis), rating for left knee disability prior to August 18, 2020, rating for left knee disability since August 18, 2020, and a separate rating for left knee meniscal condition with frequent episodes of pain, locking, and swelling from November 12, 2019.