Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that SMC due to the need for Aid and Attendance is granted. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and vascular neurocognitive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and major depression, recurrent was denied. His service connection claims for TBI and back disability were granted, while his left leg disability claim is pending and his TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of anatomical loss or use, contractures, or significant functional impairment.

The Veteran's MDD and anxiety disorder are found to be the result of his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, thus granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Further development is needed to verify these stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion. The Veteran's acquired psychological disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to address his claimed conditions and their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's kidney failure and lower extremity paralysis, as well as his aortic aneurysm, paraparesis of the bilateral lower extremities, and renal failure have all been granted service connection due to exposure to herbicides during service.,Service connection for depressive disorder, NOS, has also been granted.

The Board has granted a 70% rating for PTSD with MDD and alcohol abuse disorder effective October 31, 2012. The Veteran's claim was not factually ascertainable within the one-year lookback period prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea, but has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and considering evidence from sources other than his service records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and various depressive disorders. The decision is based on credible statements from the Veteran about in-service events and a positive medical opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse disorder, and cannabis abuse disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence to resolve the claims. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right elbow disability, increased evaluations for various knee and shoulder conditions, and an earlier effective date for his depressive disorder. The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, major depressive disorder, right wrist disorder, and lichen planus are granted service connection. The remaining issues of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are remanded due to the passage of time since the last VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. The issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,There is no evidence of hypertension during or after service, and the claim for hypertension is denied.,Peyronie's disease is denied as there is insufficient evidence linking it to active service.,Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are both granted with a 40% evaluation, effective October 18, 2018.,The claims for entitlement to earlier effective dates for the evaluations of right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies are dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for a right-hand disability and is now remanding the case to consider whether direct service connection can be established for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance-related disorders. The Veteran's current diagnoses of personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders are not service-connected due to their nature as congenital defects.