Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's depression is caused or worsened by his service-connected right knee disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU effective June 10, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for depressive disorder. The claims for right knee, left knee, and left ankle conditions are remanded due to lack of VA treatment records. The psychiatric disability claim is also remanded for additional medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety and panic attacks are reopened. The claim for headaches is denied. The Board has ordered a remand to determine the current nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of multiple conditions was denied. The Board is remanding the case to develop and adjudicate his claims.

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder was granted. Additionally, his left knee arthralgia and instability were increased to a 40 percent rating effective October 7, 2019.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD is reopened. The Veteran's testimony about stressors he experienced while in service has been considered as new and material evidence. A remand is ordered to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's MDD with PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded several issues including those related to the Veteran's knees, ankles, feet, lumbar spine, and headaches.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to January 23, 2008 and granted a 70 percent rating from that date. The appeal is for an increased rating.

An effective date of January 23, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Effective dates earlier than June 27, 2016 are denied for the grants of service connection for tension headaches, TBI, tinnitus, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.,The Veteran's December 31, 2015 claim referenced neurological damage which should have been recognized as claims including TBI and the nerve damage in his bilateral shoulders. However, no head injury nor left shoulder neurological damage was mentioned.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were diagnosed in July 2012, shortly before the claim was filed. The VA is required to obtain a medical opinion to determine if these conditions existed at the time of filing and are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional efforts should be made to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and whether they are related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is now rated at 70 percent, effective from April 29, 2014. The Board also granted an earlier effective date of April 29, 2014 for the service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional information regarding military sexual trauma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, to include as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being sent back for further development and an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip synovitis, meralgia paresthetica of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and chronic headaches have been granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and major depression have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected hypertension with nephrosclerosis was denied, but he was granted a higher rating (100%) for ischemic stroke. The other claims were either granted or remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected due to coal exposure during his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for a back disorder, separate ratings for agoraphobia, nervousness and depressive disorders, and higher ratings for the right arm and left shoulder scars, painful right arm scar, right wrist and hand arthrofibrosis, and left shoulder disability.