Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is rated at 70 percent from March 22, 2012 to March 11, 2019.,The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders starting January 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and additional development is needed.

Your appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the claim was fully granted in a May 2022 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore service connection is denied. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether a mental disorder other than PTSD is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to January 24, 2018, and a separate 10% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not been established or denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, depression, PTSD, and psychosis. The issues of service connection for a back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and respiratory disorder were also remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for IBS is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition, and bilateral foot conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hand scar with residuals to include stiffness and limitation of movement of two fingers, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to a burn in service. The cervical spine disability, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy are all remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and ADHD, are granted as service connected. The secondary claim for alcohol, opioid, and stimulant use disorders is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including attempts to verify the Veteran's claimed service in support of combat operations during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, evaluations, and TDIU due to issues with his right hip, lumbar spine, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder. The appeals are now pending again.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and his hospitalization. The issues include rating ratings, service connection, and other disability evaluations.

The Board has remanded several issues including the effective dates and initial ratings for service-connected major depressive disorder, stasis dermatitis with autoeczematization, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

Service connection for glaucoma is dismissed. Service connection for depression, sleep apnea, low back disorder, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease (claimed as ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease) are granted on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for her mental condition and earlier effective date for TDIU was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to March 5, 2019, and she lacked legal grounds to establish entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 1, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The remaining issues, including a right hip disability and increased ratings for the left knee prior to and after total knee replacement, are remanded.

The Veteran's son, D.D., was not found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18 years old. Therefore, the claim for recognition as a helpless child is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since June 5, 2014. The rating will remain at 70 percent until March 24, 2017, after which it will be denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder prior to December 16, 2019 was rated at 50 percent due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. From December 16, 2019, the rating increased to 70 percent based on more severe symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating were dismissed. Service connection was granted for a back disability, but the appeal for other conditions remains unresolved.