Depression decisions — 2020

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, anxiety and depression, and low back disability. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right arm condition is denied.,The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, right ankle strain, and right elbow degenerative arthritis are all granted service connection. The decision is based on the current disability, in-service injury or disease, and a nexus between them.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, to service. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The issues of service connection for residuals of a healed right great toe fracture and a right knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and trichotillomania, is currently rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher evaluation as the evidence does not support total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder has been granted. The decision also includes the reopening of claims for heart disease, hypertension, left foot disability, right foot disability, and neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), and other trauma and stressor related disorder with depressive features. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service rape being a contributing factor to her current mental health condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's medical history and need for further examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as shortness of breath (asthma), finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disability as of January 8, 2019. The Veteran previously had a 50 percent rating prior to that date. The decision is based on the severity and frequency of symptoms such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, memory loss, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for left wrist strain and right eye condition. The Veteran's major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined issue (service connection for depression) and will consider service connection for erectile dysfunction again.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him during the entire claim period from March 13, 2008 through August 30, 2017 and since November 1, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted a 70% rating, effective prior to November 14, 2019. A higher rating for the period since November 14, 2019, and service connection for a sleep disorder are both remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, bilateral foot condition, depressive disorder (claimed as insomnia), facial fungal infection, and headaches due to exposure to environmental hazards during her service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to special monthly pension (SMP) was denied because he failed to provide the necessary information and forms requested by VA, leading to his abandonment of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, as well as chronic sinusitis. Additional development is needed due to missing service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s substance abuse disorder, which may be related to his mental health issues, causes or aggravates his prescription pain medication use resulting in his gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder was granted, with a rating of 70 percent. The claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also granted.