Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran’s right knee has not lacked more than 20 degrees of extension at any time during the appeal period and his lay reports of symptoms are considered along with range-of-motion testing results. Instability of the right knee is rated as 10 percent disabling, but no higher. A separate rating for a meniscal tear is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents and in-service stressors. The VA is also required to schedule a new examination or telehealth interview to address the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma is granted, while her claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's unspecified trauma related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher initial rating. The disability was manifested by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional medical records and a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and anxiety disorder, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his appeals for service connection and ratings for various conditions are dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of PTSD and Depression as they have been granted in a previous rating decision. The claim for an increased rating for psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression; residuals of left foot strain (including arthritis); bilateral hearing loss; and tinnitus require further development due to incomplete medical records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder. The issues are remanded.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for depression prior to June 28, 2019.,An effective date prior to September 3, 2010, for the grant of service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service, specifically the dissolution of his first marriage.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, effective May 17, 2011. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted due to the Veteran's occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU prior to April 2, 2015. Other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence for service connection of psychiatric disorders, bilateral knee disorders, and personal assault stressor claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The decision also includes a request for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety, is granted. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD or other stress disorder, an affective disorder, psychosis, and alcohol use disorder. The decision is based on new evidence that reopened his original claim.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's original claim for service connection for PTSD to include all acquired psychiatric disorders. The case is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the August 2016 VA examination and additional diagnoses made by VA psychiatrists.

The Board has denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for DIC benefits and has remanded the case to address her claim for increased DIC benefits.