Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the diagnosis of PTSD and the need to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to July 20, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's depressive disorder, effective from when the appeal was filed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his anxiety disorder with PTSD and depression due to concerns about the adequacy of the most recent VA examination, which was conducted too long ago. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and for a new VA examination. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric, sleep apnea, and left ankle conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no competent medical evidence to show these conditions are related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for sleep apnea, PTSD including depression, and GERD have been denied. The Veteran was not granted any increase in ratings during the period of appeal.,For the period prior to April 3, 2015, the Veteran’s sleep apnea did not require a breathing assistance device such as CPAP, thus preventing him from receiving a higher rating.

The Veteran's headaches are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion on whether they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection as they were submitted on an incorrect form and do not meet the requirements to be reviewed by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with anxiety due to military sexual trauma, depression, and insomnia) require additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for Major Depressive Disorder, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder with major depression. The claim was reopened based on new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied. The effective date will be fixed in accordance with the facts and shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of the intent to file.

Your claim for service connection for depression, as secondary to pain from all service-connected disabilities was previously granted in a November 2019 rating decision. This appeal is dismissed because the issue has been resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 27, 2017 for the award of service connection for major depression was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 27, 2017 for a 100% disability rating for gout is remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's depression is granted, and his headaches are found to be proximately due to his service-connected depression. The Board also grants a compensable evaluation for the residual fracture of the displacement of left zygoma and zygomatic arch.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors.