Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims of service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Board also remanded several issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's depression symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating since April 28, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and panic disorder, was incurred during her service and is related to her military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD have been rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other specified depressive disorder - depressive episode with insufficient symptoms, was denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent prior to October 14, 2019. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's right knee scar and right knee disability are remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded due to an inadequate August 2016 examination report. A new examination is needed to assess the extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.,The left knee disability, depression, and sleep disorder are all remanded for etiology opinions regarding their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depression) and diabetes mellitus are also remanded. The examiner must determine whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service in Southwest Asia, as well as any aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected disabilities.,A sleep disorder is remanded for an examination to determine its relationship to service, specifically service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded. The examiner must consider the Veteran's pre-diabetes diagnosis during National Guard service and whether a sleep disorder caused or aggravated his current diabetes.

The Board has found the June 2019 VA psychiatric examination to be inadequate for purposes of evaluating the Veteran's service-connected anxiety with depressive disorder, due to its failure to consider relevant medical history and contemporaneous medical evidence. The claim is being remanded for a new retrospective examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of an infectious disease due to incomplete development of records, including in-service treatment records. The Veteran was not available for examination regarding his stressors and current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, other than schizophrenia and depression (to include PTSD and bipolar disorder), was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety. The decision finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was superimposed upon his pre-existing personality disorder during service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not related to service.,The earliest communication from the Veteran that can be construed as a claim for major depressive disorder was received on June 8, 2016. The effective date of June 8, 2016 has been assigned for major depressive disorder as it is later than the earliest date of entitlement (April 27, 2016).,The earliest communication from the Veteran that can be construed as a claim for residuals of a surgical scar on his left shoulder was received on March 11, 2016. The effective date of March 11, 2016 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for residuals of a surgical scar on the left shoulder associated with left shoulder osteoarthritis as it is later than the earliest date of entitlement (May 13, 2003).,The effective date of June 8, 2016 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder. The effective date of March 11, 2016 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for residuals of a surgical scar on the left shoulder associated with left shoulder osteoarthritis.,The Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is rated at 20% and remains unchanged.,The effective date of April 2, 2019 has been assigned for an increased rating to 50% for major depressive disorder (MDD) and somatic symptom disorder. The effective date of April 2, 2019 has also recharacterized the disability as 'major depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder'.,The Veteran's MDD and somatic symptom disorder is rated at 70% since April 2, 2019.,A TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pseudophakia and right eye corneal scar are granted service connection.,Weight loss is not a disability for VA compensation purposes, thus the claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for major depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, and onychomycosis of the bilateral feet was denied. The claim for a TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability) due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and insomnia disorder prior to October 28, 2019 is rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and his effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is set at April 17, 2016.,Effective dates for the grants of service connection for lumbar strain with IVDS, TBI, s/p fall, and right knee PFPS are withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral cataracts, depression, and headaches due to insufficient opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was granted. The claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (including persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, is granted. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's back injury, depression, anxiety and mood disorder (secondary to the back injury), headaches, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes are all granted as service connected. The lumbosacral radiculopathy and sleep disorder claims are remanded.