Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals for separate ratings of right and left knee instability, but has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The decision is pending further review.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was dismissed as a matter of law. The Board found that the October 2019 rating decision did not constitute a final decision by the agency and thus, the appeal must be dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and insufficient medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines and PTSD have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 29, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD, MDD, GAD, and alcohol use disorder, did not result in total social and occupational impairment during the period on appeal. The VA determined that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and dysthymic disorder, due to military sexual trauma (MST) during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) and associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for rhabdomyolysis and bilateral hearing loss have been granted as new evidence has been submitted. The claim of service connection for left foot condition (claimed as bilateral foot condition) is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current Major Depressive Disorder with Panic is at least as likely as not related to an in-service incident where he was unknowingly drugged, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for PTSD due to lack of a diagnosed condition.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and remanded the issue of an increased rating for right knee TKA.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The claims for psychiatric, right and left CTS, cervical spine, and low back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's major depression is rated at 50 percent disabling, but the appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected back and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, while his claim for Major Depressive Disorder was granted on the basis of direct service connection. The appeal is mixed as it involves both a denial and grant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD, as well as a TDIU prior to April 22, 2016. The Veteran is asked to provide any recent VA treatment records related to his mental health conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent disabling from February 16, 2010 to July 18, 2019.