Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination and issues related to his address of record. The claim will be reconsidered after scheduling an appropriate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for MDD, bladder disability, and keloid scar are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The infertility claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that there was no substantial compliance with the April 2019 Board remand directives and has therefore ordered further development to be conducted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain disease due to trauma, PTSD, major depressive disorder, shoulder pain, bilateral knee condition, emphysema with asthma, and sleep apnea have been remanded by the Board.,The appeals are currently pending before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to insufficient evidence or lack of proper examination. The Veteran needs to provide treatment records from Mexico, undergo a VA examination for his seizure disability, and receive a new etiology opinion regarding his psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his employment in a family-owned funeral home and other part-time work did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD and dysthymia resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board found that the severity of his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure adequate compliance with its prior directives regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected foot disabilities. The low back disability and hypertension are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including depression and anxiety, is denied as there is no current evidence of a psychiatric disability.

An increased initial 70 percent rating for substance abuse and substance-induced depressive disorder is granted, effective December 9, 2015.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for VA medical treatment and care in 2012, which included left leg below the knee amputation (BKA), right hip replacement, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, erectile dysfunction, and depression, due to lack of evidence showing VA negligence or fault.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of the claim, which was April 2015.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder service connection. VA assigned a September 9, 2014 as the effective date based on the submission through the VONAPP Direct Connect program.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's reported stressors need to be verified, and he should be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders and left ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by liver cirrhosis, which is linked to his service-connected tinnitus and depression. The Board found that the service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and seizure disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The TDIU claim is deferred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of bilateral hearing loss, which is remanded. The remaining conditions are now considered established as service-connected.