Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating for the period prior to November 27, 2013. For the period beginning November 27, 2013, his claim for higher ratings was denied. The Veteran also received grants for service connection of bilateral shin splints and right knee chondromalacia with retained shrapnel and leg length discrepancy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, right foot condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition due to new evidence of worsening symptoms. The Veteran's claim for residuals of left testicular surgery is also being remanded.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder) due to outstanding private treatment records and unverified in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim for residuals of left testicular surgery is also being remanded.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since June 16, 2010. He also receives TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate effective January 7, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of a VA examination and for further evidentiary development. The issues are inextricably intertwined as resolution of these claims will have a significant impact on the Veteran's claim for treatment purposes under Chapter 17 and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including GAD, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and depression, may be related to his service. However, a VA examination is needed to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Veteran's MDD was granted a 70% rating from April 9, 2020 to May 20, 2023. The appeal for an increased rating prior to April 9, 2020 and after May 20, 2023 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), and hypertension have been denied as they are not related to service.,Additional development is needed for the issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD with dysthymia due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including verification of in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for additional development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric and bilateral peripheral neuropathy disabilities. The decision is based on a private medical opinion that found the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused by fragmented sleep due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.,The claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, right knee disability, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and epididymitis are remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and need further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor. The claim will be re-examined after attempting to locate records from August 1965.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD. The focus is on whether these conditions are aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations and effective dates for multiple conditions. The appeal was dismissed due to withdrawal of claims by the Veteran.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected, and the claim for TDIU is remanded to assign a rating based on this new condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with associated conditions has been granted a 70 percent evaluation prior to October 17, 2018. The appeal for the other issues was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to an extraschedular TDIU rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim. The appeal for Major Depressive Disorder was denied as there is no evidence that the condition increased in severity during service.

The appeal seeking to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and major depressive disorder, as well as the TDIU claim, are remanded.