Depression Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for his psychiatric disabilities, and the Board has dismissed this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action due to the need to consider additional evidence and determine if he qualifies for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected mental disorders resulted in his discharge from military service, meeting the criteria for basic eligibility for VA home loan benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the initial decision and a need for further development, including verification of PTSD stressors and an examination to determine if the acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for migraine headaches is granted retroactively from February 5, 2021. The claim for a psychiatric disability (diagnosed as depressive disorder) is remanded due to the need for an adequate medical opinion and possible earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his MDD and lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the prior decision.,For TDIU, the effective date is also being remanded as there was not proper consideration of whether referral for extraschedular consideration was warranted.

The Board has remanded seven service connection claims for erectile dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, acid reflux with nausea, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, as well as sinusitis. The AOJ must attempt to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records from his last duty station at Fort Knox, KY.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with MDD is granted, effective April 2, 2019. The effective date of the award of a 70 percent disability rating for this condition is set at April 2, 2019.

The Board denied all service connection claims and the increased rating claim for myositis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria. The Board has denied his request for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with major depressive episode associated with chronic pain is granted effective April 29, 2019. The rating assigned is 70 percent disabling.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and duty-to-assist errors. The appellant's character of discharge from service is being reconsidered, as are his PTSD claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with a more comprehensive examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to verify an in-service stressor event, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder, are related to his service. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including diagnoses of major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, was denied. The effective date for the 70% rating is set at April 22, 2021.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's hypertension and major depressive disorder have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent and 70 percent, respectively. The effective dates for these ratings are not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any identified psychiatric disabilities are related to service or are aggravated by diabetes mellitus and other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder due to incomplete VA examination. The Veteran should be provided with another examination addressing the etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders.