Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including mood and depressive disorders as well as alcohol/substance abuse disorder, are found to be related to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability with associated LLE radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection for hemorrhoids, mild TMJ disorder with bruxism, left carpal tunnel syndrome with cubital tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, persistent depressive disorder, GERD with IBS, shin splint, right lower extremity, and shin splint, left lower extremity have been granted. The Veteran's service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome with cubital tunnel syndrome has been granted at a 30 percent rating effective from November 21, 2019.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue for development and adjudication, as it is part of the underlying service connection claim. The case will be referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's unemployability primarily due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder from April 17, 2018, through August 23, 2019.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD was granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and specific trauma-and stressor- related disorder, as well as sleep apnea secondary to the service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, an updated VA examination, and further review of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain medical evidence and determine whether service connection is warranted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board has granted the appellant's motion to vacate a previous decision, finding that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder) is warranted as secondary to a service-connected disability. The weight of evidence supports that these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires further development due to outstanding VA and Federal TRICARE treatment records, inconsistencies in examination reports, and incomplete employment information. The issues of PTSD evaluation, TBI evaluation, headache syndrome evaluation, and TDIU are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for Epstein Barr/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and unspecified cognitive disorder. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's active duty for training period.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Service connection was also established for tinnitus, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and left ear hearing loss effective January 18, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings and effective dates for his service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and whether it can be differentiated from his PTSD.

The Board has granted the appellant's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The bar to benefits due to dishonorable discharge is lifted, and the appellant is now eligible for VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to May 17, 2016 was denied. However, the Board granted a 100% disability rating as of May 17, 2016 for his unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran still needs VR&E services and to assess her current employment status, education, and skills. The goal is to provide appropriate vocational rehabilitation services based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating the use of a cane or wheelchair as a normal mode of locomotion. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his psychiatric disability, excluding the period from May 3, 2017 to June 30, 2017 when he was awarded a 100% evaluation due to PTSD hospitalization, is granted. A TDIU is also granted for the entire appeal period.

Service connection is denied for a right shoulder condition, back disability, ingrown toenails of the left and right feet, eye condition (refractive error), hearing loss, respiratory condition, digestive condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and depression with anxiety.