Depression Board decisions

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 10, 2016, for lumbar strain and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent from June 10, 2016, for lumbar strain. The case is remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a stroke, depression, and migraines due to head injuries as they may have an impact on the Veteran's TDIU claim.

All appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or after service, and concluding that his symptoms were not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a claim prior to December 26, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder was also denied. The Board noted that his symptoms were consistent with a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete review of the evidence and a lack of clarity in the opinion provided. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability status needs to be clarified, including whether he currently suffers from major depression.

The appeal for service connection of PTSD is dismissed. The claim for an increased rating of major depressive disorder with anxious distress is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for compliance with section 5103(a) notice requirements and an opportunity to submit evidence related to his claims.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, is granted effective from February 26, 2014.

The Board has decided that new evidence submitted by the Veteran warrants readjudication of his claims for anxiety and major depressive disorder. The case is now remanded to provide a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and anxiety has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with the case as he passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are granted as service-connected, but his cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar spine disability are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, as his education and work history were considered. The main reason for his unemployment was attributed to non-service-connected factors such as orthopedic pain, hypertension, incarceration, and lack of effort in looking for a job.

The Veteran was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depression, right and left knee replacements, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and syphilis. The Board granted a TDIU prior to June 28, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression), GERD, hemorrhoids, hypertension, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, and sciatic nerve disorders affecting both lower extremities are all service-connected.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to April 23, 2013 and 70 percent thereafter. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other conditions. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and a new VA medical opinion on the nature and etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings are being remanded due to procedural issues, need for additional examinations, and the need to address claims of entitlement to an effective date prior to August 15, 2013, for asthma on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder (subthreshold PTSD) and persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The decision also denied service connection for PTSD.