Depression Board decisions

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 60 percent for rheumatoid arthritis with mechanical arthritis, service connection for depression as secondary to the rheumatoid arthritis, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hypertension, heart disease, kidney condition, diabetes, left lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, depression, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, finding the evidence to be at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorder had its onset in service.

The Board granted service connection for other specified depressive disorder, with anxious distress as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected labral tear with rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis shoulder, left.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder was granted an initial rating of 50 percent, effective July 12, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the lack of a current diagnosis, and remanded other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), allergic rhinitis, and a psychiatric disability, to include generalized anxiety disorder with depressive disorder. The Board granted an initial compensable rating for restrictive lung disease, fibrosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and musculoskeletal issues, but granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for right hip limited extension.

The appeal of the proposed reduction of the evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability from 30 percent disabling to noncompensable is dismissed.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent evaluation for major depressive disorder, PTSD, and panic disorder without agoraphobia has been withdrawn by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the issue of service connection for foot pain.

The Board granted an increased initial disability rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's moderate, recurrent, major depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD and MDD, as well as a total disability rating due to individual unemployability based solely on these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee strain with instability, and right knee strain to obtain additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board denied increased ratings for psychiatric disabilities, liver disability, and painful scars of the anterior trunk but granted service connection for tinnitus, urinary incontinence, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, PTSD, depression, frequent urination, intermetatarsal neuroma right foot, left knee condition, right knee condition, low back strain, shoulder strain, and tinnitus, due to a failure to provide necessary examinations.

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions but granted service connection for ADHD.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, finding that it manifested with occupational and social impairment in most areas.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities beginning August 14, 2018, and special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate beginning July 23, 2019. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.