Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD) have been dismissed due to her death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and for a new examination. The Veteran's PTSD with depression is being evaluated again, and her TDIU claim is also being considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for residuals of a Colles fracture of the right upper extremity (wrist), status post CTS release, and for DDD of the cervical spine have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has also been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal. The Board finds that MVP and SVT are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating from December 1, 2016. Ratings for PTSD in excess of 30 percent prior to that date and in excess of 70 percent from July 19, 2019 are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depression with anxiety, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Appellant's character of discharge was a bar to VA benefits and if he was insane at the time of his misconduct. The case will be further developed with medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including confirmation of whether the Veteran was awarded a Purple Heart and an opinion on its relation to his current psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his exposure to herbicide agents, but a VA examiner will need to determine if it is aggravated by his prostate cancer or psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's low back disability, but remanded several other issues including those related to bilateral hearing loss, right eye condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and bipolar disorder), left knee condition, right knee condition, left hip condition, bilateral foot condition, and left elbow condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for PTSD, anxiety and depression, and TBI due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service treatment records and VA treatment records need to be obtained to determine if he sustained an in-service head injury that could lead to a current TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and exposure, as well as the need for verification of these events.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI with major depressive disorder with anxious features is granted an initial 70 percent rating for the period prior to June 1, 2017. The claim for a higher disability rating and TDIU are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, eye disability, dizziness, and gastrointestinal disability are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma.,Tinnitus has not been present during the period of the claim or approximate thereto.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, mitral regurgitation, and hypertension have been granted service connection. The claims for hiatal hernia and esophagus stricture are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back pain and post-operative left anterior cruciate ligament repair are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for right hip disabilities and service connection for right elbow ulnar nerve neuropathy have been dismissed. The appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for right elbow ulnar nerve neuropathy, claimed as secondary to a service-connected left wrist fracture with retrograde ulnar nerve neuritis, has been granted. His initial rating for major depressive disorder is set at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis.