Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle tendonitis, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD due to MST, anxiety, and depression) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent from April 17, 2009 to December 28, 2016.,An initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied after December 29, 2016.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to assess the Veteran's current diagnosis and the etiology of any diagnosed disability, including PTSD due to MST and Major Depression, recurrent. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's acquired psychological disability, including major depressive disorder and panic disorder, was granted service connection. The right toe disability and left hand finger disabilities were denied as not related to military service.,Service connection for vertigo was denied due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, hypertension, heart disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and MDD. The decision also noted that the Veteran was granted service connection for migraines and RLE radiculopathy effective August 22, 2014.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 14, 2010 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. However, the case is remanded to determine if a permanent total disability rating for PTSD should be granted.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions: rating for obstructive sleep apnea, initial rating for depressive disorder, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The remand is due to VA not obtaining medical records from the Mason City Police Department regarding the Veteran's arrests in 2007 and 2010.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70% after October 25, 2016. She also received a TDIU effective from August 1, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. The case will be returned for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are related to service. A new VA examination is needed to clarify this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of anxiety and depression, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for hairline fracture of the right scaphoid. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional evidence submitted between May and December 2017.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for allergic rhinitis and his service-connected psychiatric disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is denied as it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of active service and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no basis for granting a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to unclear information regarding exposure to Agent Orange in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder, a back disorder, and an increased rating for herpes progenitalis from September 30, 2014 to September 29, 2015 have been granted. The effective date is set at the filing of the claim on September 30, 2015.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD. However, due to conflicting evidence and lack of verification of stressors, the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and increased ratings for calcaneal spurs and right ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to military sexual trauma was denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of such disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for venereal warts and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected venereal warts, are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.