Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical examination regarding the Veteran's ability to require aid and attendance or be housebound.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a determination on whether he should have been granted TDIU prior to February 23, 2021. The Board finds that the Veteran has continuously pursued his service connection claims since April 25, 2018 and that the issue of whether TDIU can be granted prior to February 23, 2021 remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and therefore service connection is denied. The issues of hypertension, heart disability, disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, anemia, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy are being remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records from the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. These records could have significant impact on the rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder was dismissed as a matter of law because the original claim for service connection had already been denied, and the subsequent recharacterization to include PTSD did not change the effective date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 8, 2021 for a 100 percent disability rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorders was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder was granted in November 2020 with an effective date of September 11, 2020. The Board denied the earlier effective date request as the claim stream began with the September 2020 supplemental claim and continuous pursuit does not apply to legacy decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder, and anxiety. The evidence shows these conditions are related to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder, as well as his lumbar spine disability and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, render him unemployable. The Board has resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will schedule a VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

Your effective date for the 100 percent evaluation for major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder has been changed to March 23, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as the earlier effective date provided a full grant of benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, right shoulder strain, and scar (disfigurement) have been denied. The claim for erectile dysfunction remains pending as the effective date is being remanded.,An effective date prior to April 24, 2020, was not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and alcohol use disorder is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for morbid obesity, costochondritis, and GERD were denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was also denied.,Service connection was granted for generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and major depressive disorder (Anxiety Disorder).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected depression with cognitive impairment and sleep disturbances disability, as well as the nature and etiology of any PTSD condition or other mental health conditions. The case will be readjudicated after considering all evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder warrants a rating of 70 percent effective September 1, 2017. He is also granted entitlement to TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with neurocognitive disorder results in total occupational impairment, but not social impairment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating and SMC at the housebound rate effective October 19, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, OSA, and bilateral hearing loss due to pre-existing duty as a field artillery turret mechanic. The Veteran's assertions of in-service noise exposure are considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a failure to obtain necessary service treatment records (STRs). The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for anxiety and depression, as well as acne keloidalis nuchae, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.