Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for hernia, psychiatric disability (anxiety and depression), low back condition, head injury residuals, migraine headaches, left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,An effective date earlier than January 10, 2017, is denied for tinnitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, back pain, sleep problems/sleep apnea, and left shoulder pain are all found to be related to his military service.

An initial disability rating of 50 percent for mixed headaches (prior to September 22, 2015) and thereafter is granted.,An increased disability rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder prior to October 19, 2022, and thereafter is granted. An increase in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression is being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The Board finds that this evidence relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the underlying claims.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the cervical spine, bilateral hands, knees, wrists, feet, and ankles, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to service-connected psoriasis. The appeal for higher ratings for psoriasis was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues raised in a Joint Motion for Remand, and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Traumatic Brain Injury, Headaches, and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include Depression and PTSD) have been dismissed. Service connection for Polysubstance Abuse / Dependence (alcohol and cannabis), secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression, has been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder was denied. For the period prior to March 19, 2021, the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher. After March 19, 2021, the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated those associated with a 70 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder with mild alcohol use disorder, and secondary service connection for chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and depression, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for depression as it is considered a symptom of the already service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression was withdrawn. A 50 percent rating is granted for the mental health disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a higher initial rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, a compensable disability rating for bilateral lower extremity scars, and TDIU have all been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, sleep apnea and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened. The Board finds that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of these claims.,The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with an unspecified depressive disorder and cannabis use disorder is granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 25, 2022. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted. However, the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD thereafter remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD and adjustment disorder are granted a 50% rating after August 5, 2019. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including diagnoses of major depressive disorder, depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizoaffective disorder and anxiety. The appeal was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective February 21, 2012.