Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The remand is necessary due to the lack of compliance with previous Board instructions.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and efforts to verify in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim is being reconsidered on the merits as new service treatment records have been received.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded, and the TDIU claim will be deferred until the psychiatric issue is resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, depression, or anxiety as these conditions are not shown to have begun during active service and are not related to an in-service injury or disease. The diagnoses provided by VA examiners do not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for an expert opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected rhabdomyolysis or a June 2010 heat injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and chronic sinusitis are dismissed as the AOJ has not issued a final rating decision regarding these issues.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD with MDD was reduced from 70% to 0%, but the reduction was found to be improper due to a failure to follow procedural requirements, and the rating is restored.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and back disorder, as well as his TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD conditions are now rated at 100 percent effective April 1, 2019.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, depressive disorder, a cervical spine disability, residuals of face and eye burns, and chloracne is granted. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder. Additional development is needed due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional consideration of his claims, including updated VA treatment records and a February 2018 VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating above 40 percent for low back disability was denied, as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting criteria.,The Veteran's mental health disability (anxiety and depression) was granted a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including verifying service stressors and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety are on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's undescended testicle condition was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and has ordered a new development to adjudicate whether the November 2012 rating decision contained CUE in granting service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, depression, and peripheral neuropathy of the right arm. The effective date for sleep apnea is still being considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, and adjustment like disorders due to lack of a diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence linking current psychiatric conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, depression, and an increased rating for a right knee condition due to additional evidence being added to his claim file.