Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD with anxiety. The TDIU claim is also being deferred until the service connection issue is resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and paranoia and his claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, so his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), and gout are all being reviewed for their potential relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence prior to January 31, 2007 is remanded due to the need for clarification of the severity of his condition. The appeal for TDIU prior to August 30, 2006 is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder preexisted service and was aggravated by military service. The claim for reopening a personality disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as there is no evidence showing that any of his service-connected conditions alone or in combination render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder has been reopened and granted. The claims for right shoulder and left shoulder disorders have not been reopened.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of depression was denied. The rating for his service-connected depression remains at 50 percent, but the Veteran is still seeking a higher rating and TDIU.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective prior to September 11, 2019. His diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability level since October 23, 2008, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and clarification, including the reopening of a schizophrenia claim and service connection for various psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's right ovary wedge resection is also being addressed with a separate rating.,Additional medical records need to be obtained from SSA and attempts should be made to obtain her full service personnel records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety is granted service connection as it is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder, as well as the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

A rating of 10 percent for somatic symptom disorder and major depressive disorder is granted from June 21, 2017. The Veteran's higher rating claim was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent beginning May 10, 2018.,Service connection for nervus intermedius neuralgia, sleep apnea, and skin disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, upper and lower extremities, as well as for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), due to herbicide exposure. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including discoid lupus, malabsorption disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic depression), Sjogren’s syndrome, and a back disorder, all of which were deemed not related to active duty service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA, and ED are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injury, event, or disease.