Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and headaches were denied service connection. The left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain ratings were granted, but the left knee flexion limitation and instability were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent effective June 23, 2010. The Veteran also receives SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) from December 1, 2016.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been rated at 70 percent since March 7, 1995 to July 11, 2016. The Board found that the symptoms have resulted in severe impairment in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased rating for lumbar spine disability, service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for depression due to their relationship with his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, have rendered them unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his current employment, despite his reported occupational impairments.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depressive disorder, schizophrenia, manic depression, and organic brain syndrome, has been reopened. The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for service-connected depressive disorder was denied. Prior to February 6, 2018, the disability was rated at 30 percent and from that date it was rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to service, and that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, finding that it did not preexist his active military service and was not incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the remaining issues due to new evidence. The Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder (claimed as PTSD and psychotic disorder) was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate a disability manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. His claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including chest pain, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disorder, acne, facial scars, flatfoot, hypertension, memory loss, bipolar disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder), and migraines. The remand requires obtaining relevant VA treatment records, conducting additional examinations to determine the etiology of diagnosed conditions, and scheduling a new examination for migraines.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) have not been established.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and GERD were denied service connection as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent, but a higher 70 percent rating is granted.,The Veteran’s diabetic retinopathy was rated at 10 percent, and the maximum 70 percent rating for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depression was initially rated at 50 percent prior to May 14, 2013. From that date, the rating was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU prior to April 4, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.