Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying a reported in-service stressor and obtaining service treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is now pending again.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and concomitant polysubstance and alcohol abuse disorder are granted as service-connected. The issues of PTSD, skin condition, and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings in excess of 50 percent for major depression, and in excess of 10 percent for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's personality disorder is not service-connected due to it being a pre-existing condition. The issues of service connection for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and nonservice-connected pension benefits are remanded for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, needs further development and remanded. The case will be returned to the VA for a new examination and comprehensive medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to a lack of adequate examination and opinion regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD prior to February 17, 2017 was denied. The claim for a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD from February 17, 2017 was also denied.

The petition to reopen the claims for service connection for a right upper extremity disability, chronic pain disorder, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression), cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hormonal imbalance (low testosterone), left upper extremity disability, and kidney disability is granted.,Entitlement to service connection has been reopened based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fibromyalgia, and major depressive disorder have been granted. However, the claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a diagnosis.,A VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD is granted a 40 percent rating prior to July 30, 2009. The Veteran's MDD is denied any higher than the current 30 percent rating prior to November 4, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder from August 1, 2012 to July 2, 2019 was granted.,The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation on the basis of need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status are pending and require further development.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to in-service military sexual trauma and his already service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, OSA, jaw disability, and PTSD with acquired psychiatric disorders to include major depressive disorder and OCD have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for his PTSD since February 5, 2014.

The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected traumatic brain injury, service connection for a neck condition, service connection for a neurological impairment of the right upper extremity (CTS), service connection for a neurological impairment of the left upper extremity (CTS), and service connection for hearing impairment are remanded due to additional evidence that may affect these claims.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied. His appeal for an increased rating from March 13, 2019, to 20 percent is also denied. The Veteran's depression has been granted service connection, but no initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent is warranted. A TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities was granted effective December 29, 2017.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD with depression), to include anxiety, is granted. The initial rating for service-connected tinnitus remains at 10 percent. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for GERD, finding that it is not related to his in-service gastrointestinal complaints or his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is granted. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a total right knee replacement from March 1, 2018 is also granted with a 60 percent evaluation. The claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the current rating (10%) is the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder. The case is remanded for further adjudication of the TDIU claim.