Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, PTSD, and alcohol use disorder is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran, including his testimony at a hearing. The VA is instructed to obtain service personnel records and medical records from specific hospitals.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective February 28, 2018. The Board also granted a TDIU for the period prior to December 1, 2018 and a TDIU beginning on December 1, 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and depression, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating and TDIU from August 1, 2006 to July 16, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the severity of his mental health symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher than 70% disability rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection claim for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various upper extremity and skin disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective March 26, 2002.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of Parkinson's Disease and any psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his reported in-service stressors. The Veteran's statements alone were not sufficient to establish the occurrence of the claimed stressor.

The Veteran's cause of death, community acquired bacterial pneumonia with underlying dementia and respiratory failure, is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if his service-connected depression caused or aggravated his dementia.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing and the need to consider additional evidence. The Veteran's claim of an increased disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder is now pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his OSA to his active duty service or a service-connected disability. The issue of a 10% rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities was dismissed as the Veteran now has a compensable rating for Major Depressive Disorder. The TDIU claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is rated at 70 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The rating does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded this case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The VA examiner failed to consider the full history of the Veteran's mental health conditions and provide adequate rationales for their opinions.

The Veteran's headaches and depressive disorder have been granted initial ratings, but the claims for higher ratings are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequacy of previous VA examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are being evaluated again, with a focus on their onset during service or relation to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and cannabis use disorder, is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depression and anxiety. The AOJ is required to obtain VA and Vet Center treatment records for the relevant periods.