Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for other specified depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches remains pending, but no new evidence has been submitted to warrant a higher rating. The issue of remanding for a VA examination related to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and lower extremity radiculopathy is also noted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the issues being remanded, so it must be addressed as well.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings due to CUE in multiple rating decisions. The Board finds that the RO did not address all theories of CUE, specifically regarding receipt of new and relevant service department records submitted by the Veteran in 2018.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70% from June 12, 2020, and meets the criteria for a TDIU.,Bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since November 30, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with corroboration of in-service stressors and establishment of a causal relationship between current psychiatric disorders and service. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, unspecified trauma disorder, depression, and insomnia are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depression, claimed as secondary to pain from service-connected disabilities, has been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received in the form of statements indicating a possible causal relationship between MST and current acquired psychiatric disability. However, the claims are still remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the claim for a supplemental VA medical opinion to determine if any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and/or unspecified depressive disorder, is related to the Veteran's in-service stressor involving a fire on the USS Ranger.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include ingrown toenails, post-surgical bunions of the feet, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding higher staged initial ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, rated 50 percent prior to February 13, 2023, and 70 percent from that date.

The Veteran's bilateral knee DJD and obesity are granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression) is denied, and the hypertension claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health and foot disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has found that the remand directives have not been completed and another remand is necessary for further development, including obtaining opinions on service connection for psychiatric disorders, leg disabilities, and knee strains.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also remanded several other issues, including those related to his feet, thighs/hips, elbow, and skin.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, and for a TDIU rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to sexual trauma is reopened, and the appeal is granted. The Board also remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if her current acquired psychiatric disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms and overall disability picture.

The Veteran's initial ratings for migraine headaches and PTSD/MDD have been granted. However, the appeal is mixed as some issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence or further development needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the last statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ganglion cyst, right wrist; heart problems; depression due to marital problem; right knee injury; migraine headaches; and allergies/hay fever have been denied. The appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's glaucoma.