Depression Board decisions

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder effective March 6, 2012. He was also granted TDIU from May 15, 2012.,The effective dates were adjusted to reflect the correct dates of these decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, and dismissed the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for depression and kidney dysfunction due to lack of a medical opinion on their etiology.

The Board has determined that the original grant of service connection for a depressive disorder was not based on clear and unmistakable error, thus restoring the 30% disability rating effective March 1, 2015.

The Veteran's right knee disability and depressive disorder were evaluated, with the right knee receiving a combined rating of 20 percent from December 14, 2017, and the depressive disorder receiving separate ratings of 30 percent since February 26, 2009, and 50 percent since April 6, 2011. The appeals were denied as there was no evidence supporting a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected hallux valgus and intermittent atopic dermatitis have been granted a 10% rating. The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder has not met the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the adverse reaction to VA supplied medication. A Veteran's Health Administration specialist opinion is needed to address whether the speech impairments, lower extremity weakness, and dystonic reaction were caused by the ingestion of Gabapentin or Dubutamine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected migraine headaches.,The Veteran's right thumb disability and dizziness are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and hypertension claims are being remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and depression as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The claims are being remanded due to the need for medical nexus opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression, but remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted a disability rating of 50 percent prior to November 27, 2014. A 100 percent rating was granted for the period from November 27, 2014, through December 1, 2014. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating on and after December 2, 2015, is denied. The Board also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, updated medical records, and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, major depressive disorder, migraine headaches, and lumbar strain with IVDS have been denied.,An effective date of February 16, 2017 has been granted for the increased evaluations of major depressive disorder (to 70 percent), migraine headaches (50 percent), and lumbar strain with IVDS (40 percent).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction due to potential issues with causation. The TDIU claim is also raised as a component of the rating appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but the claims of service connection and TDIU are still pending as they were not fully adjudicated in the previous decision. The Board has ordered remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for further development and clarification regarding his claimed stressors during service.