Depression Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues regarding bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, stroke, foot injury/jungle rot, and bilateral thigh/knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's claim is inextricably intertwined with her PTSD claim based on an in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, but has remanded to determine if an increased rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims that were previously denied or not addressed. The effective dates for some of the service-connected conditions are being reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was reopened due to new evidence, but the claim for back pain remains closed.,Service connection for persistent depressive disorder is granted with a rating of 30% prior to December 16, 2019. The claim for generalized anxiety disorder with depressive features and somatic symptom disorder from that date forward was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The claims for increased ratings for other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress and insomnia disorder and migraine headaches are remanded, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and right ankle degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The skin condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for alcohol dependence, secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder, is being remanded.,No effective date has been assigned as the issue of entitlement to service connection on a secondary basis is being addressed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including knee, foot, hip, shoulder, and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development as requested.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee condition, depression, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD due to deficiencies in medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed stressors and diagnoses. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service treatment records from all periods of active service, including her National Guard and Army service. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for PTSD and major depression/depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was received in May 2017, allowing for further appellate review on the merits. The appeal is granted as to the issue of service connection for PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's major depression with generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment in most areas.

The Veteran's anxiety, depression, and PTSD are related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her generalized anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as her right hamstring residuals, are being remanded due to the need for new examinations. Her TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is granted, as it was factually ascertainable within one year of the receipt of his claim that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and addressing the Veteran's reported stressors during service.