Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus, right rib sprain, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and insomnia) are all granted as service connected. The claims for PTSD have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety disorder has been granted, but the issue is remanded due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining a VA examination prior to the February 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected depressive disorder is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood, unspecified depressive disorder, and anxiety, is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis and left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a final decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural errors and insufficient evidence. The appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being examined again as there are unclear findings from the previous VA examination. A new VA examination is also needed to determine if the appellant's migraine headaches were incurred in or due to his active military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as there are insufficient records to make a decision without further evaluation. The Veteran's symptoms and in-service events suggest a possible link to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and various musculoskeletal conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, infertility, and penile deformity (including azoospermia) as new evidence did not support readjudication of these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, anxiety, and drug addiction is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the VA examiner's opinions regarding etiology and secondary service connection.

Your appeal has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw it. Your earlier effective date for service connection was granted by VA.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The issues include verifying in-service stressors related to his submarine service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the left hip with bursitis with limitation of flexion, right and left knee disabilities, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for major depressive disorder and bilateral pes cavus and hammertoes has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the February 2020 VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as there is no indication that he has a current mental health diagnosis.

The Veteran's MDD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board has granted a disability rating of 70 percent for MDD.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to July 3, 2019, for tinnitus service connection and a rating in excess of 70% for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted an initial 70 percent rating effective December 10, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating was denied.