Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. However, it denied the claims as there is no credible supporting evidence that the Veteran experienced the claimed in-service stressors resulting in PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for left knee status post unicompartmental medial replacement from April 1, 2015 to September 13, 2017 was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to lack of sufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and right elbow epicondylitis were not incurred or aggravated in service, are not presumed service connected, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia as these conditions are not related to service.,Service connection was also denied for dementia due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for chronic residuals of a left ankle sprain and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and conversion disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and depression, but denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities and lung disability. The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, while his depression onset during service. Lung disability was not shown to be related to service.

The appellant withdrew their appeal regarding the service connection for atrial fibrillation, benign positional vertigo, tinnitus, allergies, and depression and anxiety. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that his depression is related to his right knee arthralgia. The decision resolves all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The claims for low back disability and CAD are denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and cervical spine disorder due to new and material evidence having been received.

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder with alcohol disorder is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% rating.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and an eye disorder due to inadequate examination opinions regarding etiology and causation.,The Veteran's eye disorder claim remains pending, with the Board requesting additional examination opinions on the nature and etiology of his eye condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of payment Chapter 33 educational assistance, to the maximum rate of 100 percent, is granted as his discharge after more than 30 days of active qualifying service was due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and neurocognitive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. He was granted a 70% disability rating for this condition prior to January 8, 2020.,Service connection for chronic headaches was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the date of initial onset and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, depression, and lack of sleep.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with major depressive disorder is now rated at 70% from April 20, 2018 onwards.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but not higher. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.,For rhinitis with sinusitis, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent since April 21, 2015. The Board found that he has more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year and granted him a 30 percent rating effective from April 21, 2015.,The Veteran's chronic anxiety and depression is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and depression. The decision finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not due to his service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, finding that no valid claim was submitted prior to September 2013.