Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential missing service treatment records and need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD or any other diagnosed acquired psychiatric diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and panic disorder, as secondary to the service-connected right hip disability. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is also granted. The Veteran's right foot neuritis (previously claimed as right foot numbness) is granted as secondary to her now service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and respiratory disorder are denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each granted a 10 percent rating, and her right shoulder sprain is granted a 40 percent rating. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.,The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability to include adjustment disorder and depression is granted a 50% rating prior to October 3, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings throughout the entire period of appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the audiometric testing does not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and related conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU effective February 6, 2013.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression. The case is remanded to determine if there are any superimposed acquired psychiatric disabilities during active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic distress disorder with depressive disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's low IQ and illiteracy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him helpless enough to require regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and chronic low back pain, have been found to meet the criteria for specially adapted housing eligibility. The claim for a special home adaptation grant is moot as he has already received eligibility for specially adapted housing. His request for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment was denied due to lack of meeting eligibility criteria.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a valid diagnosis based on a corroborated in-service stressor. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, gastrointestinal disability, and sleep disturbance are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected depression and ischemic heart disease with history of bypass graft, and his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied as there were no indications of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, respiratory condition, residuals of a head injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depressive disorders), and right eye disability. The claims are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.