Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% from April 29, 2010 to April 19, 2016 and at 70% thereafter. The earlier effective date for TDIU prior to February 1, 2018 was denied, but the earlier effective date for TDIU from February 1, 2018 onward is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and rating of various conditions, including TBI, PTSD, major depressive disorder, and shin splints. Service connection remains on the merits.

The Board has decided that an addendum medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and insomnia, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of his current conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the November 2021 VA opinion is inadequate and remands for a new examination by an appropriate provider to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate regular aid and attendance and/or render him housebound.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has ordered remand for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected condition and for consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is rated at 20 percent, effective August 11, 2014. His right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 20 percent ratings, effective August 11, 2014 and April 29, 2019 respectively. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 15, 2012. His right foot fibromatosis and left foot fibromatosis are granted service connection. His bilateral hip strains are secondary to his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary due to the failure of the VA examiner to address a relevant article submitted by the Veteran regarding the link between depression and sleep apnea. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD and depressive disorder is remanded due to the duration of time since the last VA examination, which may have led to worsening symptoms. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, including obtaining all relevant treatment records and conducting a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological disorder other than major depressive disorder was denied. The claim for increased rating of residuals of lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, including right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, is also denied.

Service connection is granted for a left elbow disability and consequent left elbow and forearm scar.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, TBI, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, or cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and MDD with anxious distress are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied for bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder (to include secondary to type II diabetes mellitus), and bilateral eye disorder (to include secondary to type II diabetes mellitus). The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a compulsive eating disorder as secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder and PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of an eating disorder separate from the Veteran's service-connected conditions.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was also denied as secondary to the claimed eating disorder or service-connected PTSD. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current eating disorder and concluded that diabetes mellitus did not manifest within one year of discharge.