Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Service connection was denied for a sinus disability.

The Veteran's diagnosed other trauma- and stressor-related disorder and depression are due to his active naval service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (BLE) and (BUE). The claim for left ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,New and material evidence has been presented to reopen claims for psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression; asthma. These claims are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, TBI, headaches, right knee disorder, right shoulder condition, and neck pain are denied as they have already been addressed in his grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU prior to April 21, 2015, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantial gainful employment.,The Veteran's SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance is denied as he does not require the regular aid of another person.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective January 8, 2018. The appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions have rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance, with the Board finding that this is due to her disabilities rather than solely to her PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, and a right knee condition need further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a TDIU due to PTSD. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records, complete VA Form 21-8940, and undergo a VA examination.

The appeal regarding right arm numbness, a right shoulder condition, and TDIU is being remanded for further review.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 9, 2013 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder. The Veteran is also in receipt of TDIU based on his service-connected depressive disorder since that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to withdraw his claim for a higher rating for left knee revision total knee arthroplasty. The Veteran was also granted entitlement to TDIU due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and osteochondral injury, as well as lumbosacral strain with fusion, have been granted service connection.,Left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted service connection based on their relationship to the service-connected low back disability. The unspecified depressive disorder is granted service connection due to its secondary nature to the Veteran's other disabilities.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, but the Board finds no evidence of a prior claim or intent to file before July 6, 2018.,The Veteran's PTSD disability is rated at 30 percent from July 6, 2018 to July 24, 2020 and 50 percent thereafter. A remand is required for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD with TBI.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues, particularly regarding his psychiatric disorder, sleep disorder, and hearing loss. The Board is unable to adjudicate these claims without additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, but has remanded it due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and PDD, is related to his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that new evidence had not been submitted to reopen his tinnitus claim, but remanded other issues including depression, lower extremity radiculopathy, shoulder disabilities, knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, hip disabilities, irritable colon syndrome, and bladder disability.