Depression Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with anxiety due to military sexual trauma, depression, and insomnia) require additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for Major Depressive Disorder, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder with major depression. The claim was reopened based on new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied. The effective date will be fixed in accordance with the facts and shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of the intent to file.

Your claim for service connection for depression, as secondary to pain from all service-connected disabilities was previously granted in a November 2019 rating decision. This appeal is dismissed because the issue has been resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 27, 2017 for the award of service connection for major depression was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 27, 2017 for a 100% disability rating for gout is remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's depression is granted, and his headaches are found to be proximately due to his service-connected depression. The Board also grants a compensable evaluation for the residual fracture of the displacement of left zygoma and zygomatic arch.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination and issues related to his address of record. The claim will be reconsidered after scheduling an appropriate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for MDD, bladder disability, and keloid scar are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The infertility claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that there was no substantial compliance with the April 2019 Board remand directives and has therefore ordered further development to be conducted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain disease due to trauma, PTSD, major depressive disorder, shoulder pain, bilateral knee condition, emphysema with asthma, and sleep apnea have been remanded by the Board.,The appeals are currently pending before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to insufficient evidence or lack of proper examination. The Veteran needs to provide treatment records from Mexico, undergo a VA examination for his seizure disability, and receive a new etiology opinion regarding his psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his employment in a family-owned funeral home and other part-time work did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD and dysthymia resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board found that the severity of his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure adequate compliance with its prior directives regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, and major depressive disorder.