Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle, right knee, left knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are all found to be related to his military service.,His acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss and unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder have been denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC based on housebound criteria were granted, effective June 16, 2020. The appellant is eligible to attorney fees in the amount of 20% of past-due benefits awarded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for dementia and depression with insomnia (including anxiety) due to a lack of VA examination and nexus opinions. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions are likely related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial 10 rating, but no higher, for limitation of extension of the right hip has been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for chronic headaches has been denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the reduction of his rating for unspecified depressive disorder, and as a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the claims regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and left knee conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as anxiety), depression, insomnia, and social adjustment disorder were all denied due to the lack of persuasive evidence of a current disability during or shortly before the pendency of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining all available VA treatment records and seeking medical opinions regarding whether service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 2013 for a 100% rating for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent. The decision is based on the Veteran's symptoms and impairment from January 2, 2014 onwards.

The Veteran's MDD symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment for the entire period on appeal, warranting a 100% disability rating. The Veteran also meets criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left groin injury (claimed as left thigh muscle stain/pull), and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee pain conditions as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not appropriate due to insufficient evidence of occupational and social impairment in most areas.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and GERD. The appeal for TDIU was also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were addressed in a September 2020 rating decision, which granted the requested effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression associated with GERD with H. Pylori status post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with residual bloating, flatulence, and inability to vomit, to include IBS.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of his 30 percent disability rating for depressive disorder was granted because the AOJ improperly reduced it to noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions, right knee disability, unspecified depressive disorder, sciatic nerve radiculopathies, femoral nerve radiculopathies, and tension-migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 5, 2019.