Depression Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee joint pain, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is granted, effective January 30, 2019. The Board found that the earliest effective date available was January 30, 2019.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for back disability is dismissed. The issue related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, PTSD, and depression due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities are also granted. The Veteran's increased rating claim for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with arthritis remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with substance abuse, is granted. The Veteran's substance induced paroxysmal dyskinesia is also granted. As the Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the issue of service connection for purposes of treatment only is dismissed.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's PTSD with depression prior to July 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar and cervical spine degenerative disc diseases, chronic headaches, sinusitis, right hip disability, traumatic brain injury residuals, auditory processing disorder, and psychiatric disabilities. The remand requires obtaining relevant medical records from Social Security Administration and the Okaloosa Vet Center.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The Board will consider all issues on appeal once this process is completed.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service connected. The claims for toenail fungus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, a depressive disorder, and anxiety), neurobehavioral effects to the face, and heart disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation of service-connected left and right breast gynecomastia for the period prior to May 2, 2007, as well as the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The decision is pending further development.

The Board has determined that the issue of service connection for a non-PTSD psychiatric disorder is not on appeal. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate VA etiological opinion and to attempt to obtain VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to consider the Veteran's claim for TDIU, including his service-connected major depressive disorder effective June 17, 2019.

The appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, to an increased evaluation for depression, and to an effective date prior to November 28, 2006, for the grant of Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is dismissed. The issue of TDIU prior to November 28, 2006, is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is rated at 20 percent, effective September 13, 2019. From that date onwards, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mental disorder and liver conditions, have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 2, 2015. The Board has granted the TDIU rating effective that date.

The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are related to his military service.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted. The issues of service connection for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and headaches are remanded.