Depression Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders are all considered to be in the 'unknown' status as they have not been addressed yet.,Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for depression, a compensable rating for hypertension, TDIU, and COPD with asthma have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, claimed as back sprain and low back strain, is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, claimed as chronic major depression and stress, is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for her service-connected PTSD, stating that there was no prior claim of service connection for PTSD pending in her file and thus no basis to award a prior effective date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disability was denied. An earlier effective date of October 14, 2020, was granted for the award of TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in not scheduling a VA psychiatric examination prior to the decision on appeal. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are now pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased rating for PTSD was granted, with a 100% disability rating effective from April 29, 2015. The decision also addressed the Veteran's TDIU prior to September 30, 2019, which is now moot.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder with depressive disorder and primary insomnia was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with a rating of 70% effective from the date of receipt of the July 2022 supplemental claim, and an additional 20% was added making it a total of 90%. The attorney is eligible to receive fees based on past-due benefits awarded in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for his depressive disorder NOS with anxiety and polysubstance abuse was denied. The claim for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examination must consider whether in-service MST occurred and if it contributed to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, as the prior examinations were not conducted in his home state and he was unable to attend them.

The Board has restored a 100% rating for PTSD and MDD, effective from August 1, 2022, after finding that the reduction in rating was not properly made according to VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the evidence did not show that the disability level of 70 percent was factually ascertainable prior to January 12, 2022.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The appeal for psychiatric disorder is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorders and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for increased rating for the service-connected status post small bowel resection and history of peptic ulcer, GERD, remains pending.

The Board denied entitlement to earlier effective dates for both a higher MDD rating and TDIU. The Veteran's claim for increased MDD was granted with an effective date of September 22, 2020, based on the filing of his intent to file a claim. For TDIU, the effective date is denied as it does not meet the schedular requirements within one year of the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of GERD.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include major depression was dismissed as the Veteran received a separate grant of service connection in October 2023 for adjustment disorder with depressed mood, which he filed as his claim for major depression.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral onychomycosis has been denied as there is no evidence of current or past-on-service diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that his current psychiatric disability is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent, granting an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The Board also granted a TDIU from February 2, 2018.