Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are related to an in-service stressor, his OSA is proximately due to his service-connected knee disability, but he does not have BHL for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a right lower shin fracture and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis, L5-S1 neural foraminal stenosis with IVDS. The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is rated at 20 percent due to the presence of functional loss and pain during range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, to his service. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination in connection with this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 23, 2010, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with anxious distress is granted.,The claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, is granted service connection. The Veteran's DJD of the first right MTP joint is granted a 20% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder was granted. The effective date for this award is September 30, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent MDD with anxious distress and insomnia disorder is rated at 70 percent since October 2, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder, is rated at 50% effective October 31, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to missing service treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's SSN may be incorrect, and a search should be conducted using both correct and incorrect numbers.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including effective date for scar, low back prior to April 15, 2017; evaluation greater than 70 percent for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder; compensable evaluation for scar, low back; and evaluation greater than 40 percent for residuals, status post lumbar discectomy. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for further adjudication by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depressive disorder, right and left knee strains, tinea unguium, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that these conditions are attributable to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for clarification on his incarceration dates during the appeal period, which may affect eligibility.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are reopened, and he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board finds the claim for a left ankle disability to be remanded due to inadequate examination findings. His TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including lung cancer, kidney/bladder cancer, COPD, hematuria, bone metastasis of the left iliac bone, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS is rated at 70 percent, effective from December 29, 2010. The Board also granted TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ratings for cubital tunnel syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis. The claims are being returned for further development due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration and an inadequate evaluation of the Veteran's migraines and tension headaches.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process and there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these cases.