Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (which includes PTSD, insomnia, and depression), initial compensable rating for residuals of a left 5th phalanx fracture, service connection for bilateral lower extremity lymphedema, and service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Board found that further development is needed in these cases.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his back condition and acquired psychiatric condition. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records, schedule examinations if necessary, and provide an adequate opinion on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records from May 28, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for cataracts and depressive disorder, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to the Veteran's military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current evidence of a disability and noting that his symptoms are more likely related to his alcohol use disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records from Dr. M-Q and Dr. G.S., which are necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's myxoid liposarcoma and its relationship to her secondary conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression due to MST. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and needs to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 100 percent effective November 25, 2019. The Board has determined that the effective date should be set at November 25, 2018.,Effective November 25, 2018, the Veteran is eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU in January 2010, but remanded it. The February 2018 rating decision granted the TDIU based on service-connected conditions, and the RO issued the decision. However, there was no final Board decision on the issue of TDIU before June 20, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5. The Board found that there was no in-service stressor corroborated to establish a nexus between the diagnosed conditions and service.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied because the Veteran's first reported symptoms were decades after service, and there was no evidence of noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle condition and remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as freestanding claims, which are not permissible under VA regulations.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for depression and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression and anxiety may be related to his military service, but a VA examination is needed to confirm this.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (claimed as PTSD) is granted with an effective date of February 29, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for insomnia disorder is denied because the symptoms of his insomnia disorder are already encompassed in his existing service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The case will be reviewed to determine if there is sufficient evidence of a current disability and a link between the claimed stressor in service and any diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, was also denied.