Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for menorrhagia with pelvic pain, anemia (secondary to menorrhagia), and major depression (secondary to menorrhagia) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, allergies, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder), and hypertension have been remanded. The reduction from a 10 percent to a zero percent rating for radiculopathy, left lower extremity effective June 23, 2015 was improper.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The evidence submitted since the March 2016 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as 0 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claim will be remanded for further development.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder) remains pending as the Veteran's claims have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU due to unresolved medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered after obtaining an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities (polyneuropathy) is remanded due to a lack of updated private treatment records from his lifetime providers.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, to include GERD, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression and anxiety, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to lung cancer, neurobehavioral effects from Camp Lejeune exposure, a scar status post left kidney removal, and major depression. The Board has remanded several of these issues for further development.,An effective date prior to June 29, 2009 is granted for the increased rating of 50 percent for major depression.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not shown to be incurred in service and there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service stressor for PTSD and the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a urinary condition was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.,Major depressive disorder was granted at 70% prior to February 8, 2017 and at 100% from May 18, 2018. The rating in excess of 70% for the period before February 8, 2017 is denied.,Service connection for low back disorder was denied as it did not meet the one-year requirement after separation from service.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted secondary to the service-connected low back disorder. The rating in excess of 20% is denied for both conditions starting December 9, 2015.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability, peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as moot because SMC based on aid and attendance is a greater benefit.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for PTSD with associated depressive disorder was denied. A separate 70% disability rating is granted as of March 11, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and for a VA examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is granted. SMC for loss of use of lower extremities and TDIU from January 8, 2010 are also granted.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for a lower back condition, frostbite residuals (claimed as pain), depression, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate with alcohol use disorder mild is granted a disability rating of 70 percent effective February 24, 2010.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The left knee disability remains at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected psychiatric and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder NOS and generalized anxiety disorder, effective from September 10, 2018. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran should be granted an increased rating or service connection for sleep apnea.