Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The back disability, bilateral knee disabilities (right and left knees), and left shoulder disability are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's prostate condition, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, shoulder and hip disabilities (claimed as bursitis and tendonitis), psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim was granted from September 4, 2010 to February 26, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD prior to May 22, 2012 and from May 22, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to May 22, 2012 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and missing treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, upper back condition, left knee condition, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence of a direct relationship between any of these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's arrhythmia, bruxism, COPD, right hip condition, left hip condition, left knee injury, obesity, traumatic brain injury, and vertigo have not been found to be related to service.,PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in a rating of 70 percent but the Veteran is still considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress and major depressive disorders, finding no unadjudicated formal or informal claim prior to October 7, 2015.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50% and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol dependence and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) is dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is related to his military service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition but has remanded the issue of sleep apnea as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to his service.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU for the period prior to February 4, 2013 is dismissed as there is no case or controversy regarding this benefit.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are as likely as not attributable to his military service, including his duties as a casket bearer. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression has rendered him unemployable from November 17, 2004 to January 14, 2013. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, has been reopened and is being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability have also been reopened and are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for another VA examination to properly adjudicate the service connection claim.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted a 70% rating, but no higher. The appeal is based on reopened evidence and the criteria for this rating are met.

The Veteran's TBI and persistent depressive disorder are rated at the highest available level of disability.,No effective date earlier than June 22, 2017 is granted for any of the claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection. The VA needs to obtain new medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service, including his participation in Project Whitecoat and subsequent hospitalization at Walter Reed Medical Center.