Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder (manifested by knots of the underarms and tailbone), and a right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, Paranoid Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Manic Depressive Disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disability, nerve damage to the bowel, and nerve damage to the kidneys as secondary to prostate cancer. The appeal was not granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as TDIU. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with sleep problems or a current disability related to his migraine headaches.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including his depressive disorder, is related to service and remanded for further action.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while bilateral hearing loss and other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric conditions, alcohol use disorder, and left knee pain.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no symptoms warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was granted, effective March 22, 2019. The evidence showed that the Veteran needed help with most activities of daily living due to his service-connected mental health conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The left ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder found, including major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's service records indicate he was harassed by superiors during his four months in the Army.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee joint pain, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is granted, effective January 30, 2019. The Board found that the earliest effective date available was January 30, 2019.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for back disability is dismissed. The issue related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, PTSD, and depression due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities are also granted. The Veteran's increased rating claim for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with arthritis remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with substance abuse, is granted. The Veteran's substance induced paroxysmal dyskinesia is also granted. As the Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the issue of service connection for purposes of treatment only is dismissed.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's PTSD with depression prior to July 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar and cervical spine degenerative disc diseases, chronic headaches, sinusitis, right hip disability, traumatic brain injury residuals, auditory processing disorder, and psychiatric disabilities. The remand requires obtaining relevant medical records from Social Security Administration and the Okaloosa Vet Center.