Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

An effective date of September 30, 2009 is granted for the assignment of total rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 35. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment since at least September 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete examinations and the need for additional medical records. The issues of service connection are being reviewed, as well as initial disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD with MDD and his TDIU claim have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD with MDD, was granted effective May 2, 2013. A rating in excess of 50 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence is needed for a determination on service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder and depression, as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with anxiety) has been granted. The Veteran was diagnosed with this condition during service and linked it to his combat exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and panic disorder is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to insufficient evidence and to consider whether a TDIU prior to March 15, 2013 is warranted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to her military service. The VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in the previous decision regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, which is now dependent on the outcome of the rectal/colon cancer service connection claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for anxiety disorder, PTSD, and depressive disorder due to the need for a VA examination to clarify the nature of these conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA treatment records. The issues of increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411. The VA examiners found that her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety, is rated at 70 percent. The Board has granted special monthly compensation on a statutory housebound basis effective August 31, 2015. Service connection for the bilateral knee condition remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder in the medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, since June 13, 2014, is dismissed. The issue of a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinea corpora of the scalp and body, since September 5, 2008, is remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes is currently rated at 10% and denied an increased rating.,Prior to November 28, 2018, the Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50%, which remains unchanged. From that date onwards, her rating has been increased to 70%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.