Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to failure to schedule VA examinations and unclear intent regarding withdrawal of appeal. The Veteran is advised to appear for scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with depression was denied as the evidence did not support a backdating of the award.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a blood disorder. The claim for reopening and granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date set at the date of receipt of the new evidence (June 2019). Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the veteran's current psychiatric condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional medical records. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is not currently service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain with osteoarthritic changes and left hip bursitis, both secondary to her psoriatic arthritis, are being remanded.,Her claim for a compensable disability rating for psoriatic arthritis is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye retinal hole with pain and loss of vision to the extent of blindness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and unspecified anxiety disorder) as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will request a new examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and awarded a TDIU effective from April 1, 2011. The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected back and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder secondary to his service-connected left shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the currently assigned 70 percent rating for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and mood/depressive disorder are etiologically related to his active service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, major depressive disorder with symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, bipolar disorder, ADHD), back disorders (including arthritis), left knee disorders (including arthritis), right knee disorders (including arthritis), migraines, and tinnitus have all been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limitation of motion. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any other claimed conditions.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and alcohol use disorder), sleep apnea, low back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The right foot pes planus is denied for an earlier effective date, but a rating of 20 percent is granted from June 18, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for residuals of burns to the face, hands, arms, and chest, as well as depression secondary to those conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, back disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, shoulder and hip disabilities, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were not shown as chronic in service or related to a service-connected disability. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding these conditions being related to his military service to be speculative.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were first diagnosed 30 years after separation from service and are not considered to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling for the entire appeal period, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service or pre-existing conditions.