Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and incorrect adjudication of some issues. The appellant's claim for service connection is now recharacterized to include any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

VA has received new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension, Hepatitis C, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (unspecified depressive disorder and delusional disorder), glaucoma, pancreatic disorder, and diverticulitis. Service connection is granted for the latter four conditions.,VA has denied service connection for hypertension, glaucoma, and pancreatic disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to complexity of military and medical history, including PTSD and depression. The cause of death is being considered for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending due to lack of verification of stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for kidney disease, total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and an effective date earlier than November 14, 2019, for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU due to concerns with the examination provided in March 2020. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent depression. The case was remanded due to a Joint Motion for Remand, and the Veteran is now required to undergo another VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no link between his depression and in-service confinement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to March 9, 2012 did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and back disorders, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 18, 2012. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of that date.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be related to her active duty service in the U.S. Army, and she is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's claimed combat experience in Vietnam and the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and dysthymia resulted in social impairment with deficiencies in areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. However, they did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his active service.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder to greater than 70 percent is denied due to lack of medical evidence supporting such a high level of disability.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular requirements and his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, diabetic heart disease, unspecified depressive disorder, abdomen scar, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been granted service connection. The effective dates for these awards are December 13, 2017.

The Board has found errors in obtaining relevant medical records and Social Security Administration records, which are necessary to determine the appropriate effective dates for the Veteran's increased disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression. The Board found that his current diagnosis is not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder due to a lack of proper appeal initiation. The claim for ataxic gait (claimed as ageotropic static positional nystagmus) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to provide a VA examination, and because the issues are inextricably intertwined.