Depression decisions — 2020

Service connection for glaucoma is denied.,An effective date prior to February 22, 2017 for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress disorder is denied.,An effective date of August 9, 2015 (but no earlier) for the award of service connection for diabetic retinopathy is granted, subject to regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.,Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for type 2 diabetes mellitus is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent (prior to February 15, 2017) and in excess of 40 percent (from February 15, 2017) for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent (prior to February 15, 2017) and in excess of 40 percent (from February 15, 2017) for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,An effective date of August 9, 2015 (but no earlier) for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU rating) is granted, subject to regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete service treatment records, lack of audiograms in those records, and the Veteran's inability to assist further. The Board also requested a new opinion on both issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed disturbances, generalized anxiety, recurrent moderate major depression, intermittent explosive disorder, and mood disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and secondary service connection for MDD and psychotic disorder with hallucinations due to the Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and entitlement to TDIU was granted. The decision also confirmed the initial 50 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20 percent and his unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent. Both conditions are denied for increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for PTSD due to insufficient discussion of occupational impairment in the original decision. The Court found that VA should obtain additional records and conduct another examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected mental disorder, including differentiating between symptoms attributable to PTSD and those from non-service connected Major Depressive Disorder.

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

The Veteran's increased rating claim for headaches was denied, and his service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a GI disorder were granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's insomnia and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions and need for additional development. The claims include psychiatric disability, stroke, and cause of death.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and remanded his claim of service connection for a personality disorder, finding that secondary service connection is not possible due to the nature of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for depression, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy have all been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals, status post left knee medial meniscectomy is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU, a temporary total rating for convalescence based on bilateral inguinal hernia surgery, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back condition and psychiatric disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed mental health disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The Board found that there was no medical evidence linking any current psychiatric disability to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left knee, right knee, and sleep apnea disabilities is dismissed. A 50 percent rating is granted for PTSD from June 6, 2012.