Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder have not been shown to result in total occupational and social impairment, thus the current rating of 70 percent is denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not the level of impairment required for a higher disability rating. The Board denied his claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, recurrent panic disorder, agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since January 8, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS is remanded.

Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The persistent depressive disorder was rated at 30%, the postoperative scar on the right groin had no compensable rating, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between her current mental health conditions and her military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to include memory loss as a residual of service-connected encephalitis in the June 1973 rating decision. However, an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cognitive disorder and major depression is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for status post pterygium excision of bilateral eyes is denied. The application to reopen a claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, previously evaluated as major depression and anxiety claimed as nervous condition, is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including passive-aggressive personality disorder, depression, and anxiety, finding that the conditions were not caused by service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder and major depressive disorder, warrants a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board has decided the case is not ready for final decision and has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether it is related to burn pit exposure while serving overseas.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as there was no opinion regarding its relationship to PTSD with MDD and/or service-connected conditions, including burn pit exposure.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities is remanded as there was no opinion regarding whether it is related to PTSD with MDD.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2011. The rating for bilateral pes planus prior to July 6, 2016, remains denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with insomnia is rated at 70 percent since December 22, 2010. The Board also granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder secondary to his left knee disorder.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, are found to be secondary to her service-connected urethral polyps with residual microhematuria and urinary tract infections.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.,The Board also denied service connection for a congenital heart defect, noting that it is not considered a disease or injury for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, hypertension, and cold injury residuals are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TBI claim was denied as the evidence did not show total impairment, and separate psychiatric diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder were found to be related to his panic disorder without agoraphobia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's aortic aneurysm is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and depression.