Depression Board decisions

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.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressor events and a need for further examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are being reviewed on their merits.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder due to failure to substantially comply with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service connection claims for rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), a low back disability, a cervical spine disability, a bilateral knee disability, migraines, intestinal condition (colostomy bag), and cervical cancer are all granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder was granted with an effective date of October 12, 2018. The appeal to have the effective date earlier than October 12, 2018, is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection. For the period prior to January 26, 2016, a 70 percent rating for PTSD with depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not begin during active service and are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine strain was dismissed, and the appeal for TDIU was granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder is granted a 70 percent rating effective November 26, 2009. The appeal for higher ratings on other conditions remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for postoperative pilonidal cyst, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) secondary to his service-connected postoperative pilonidal cyst, and service connection for back, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hips, and bilateral knees are also being remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected postoperative pilonidal cyst. An addendum opinion will be required to address this issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and bipolar disorder, finding that there is no persuasive evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disabilities and skin cancer. The examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military sexual trauma in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support the contention that these conditions began during or are related to his military service.