Depression decisions — 2020

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 Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, PTSD, and depression due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for mood disorder with anxiety and depression, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). This is because VA did not fully comply with its duty to assist the Veteran by scheduling him for a VA examination. The cases are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are reopened, but the Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination and provide opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his symptoms.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, but denied entitlement to TDIU prior to December 5, 2018.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, gastrointestinal disorders, colon resection, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, hernia disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, left shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, and sinusitis has been granted. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, claimed as secondary to hypertension, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder and an increased rating for his back disability was granted effective April 1, 2019. However, the Board denied requests for earlier effective dates.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder alone does not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and thus denies his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 29, 2016 is denied as there was no pending claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia and persistent depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder due to insufficient evidence. A VA examination is required.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it adjudicated all issues related to effective dates and disability ratings in a previous decision, leaving no new errors of fact or law for consideration.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for a depressive disorder due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, particularly regarding the Veteran's service in Turkey and his psychiatric treatment during service. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant personnel and medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depression, and personality disorder, finding no current disability.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment from October 1, 2017 to October 19, 2017. The Board granted a disability evaluation of 70 percent for this period.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are not granted. The Veteran is granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right femoral nerve with a staged initial rating greater than 20 percent from July 17, 2019, and for peripheral neuropathy of the left sciatic nerve with an increased rating greater than 40 percent from July 19, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of depression was denied as there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric condition to his active duty. His claim for an increased SMC rate was also denied due to lack of qualifying conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression with anxiety, granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and found that the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his military service.