Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a vocational rehabilitation assessment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including stress, anxiety, and depression. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that her current psychiatric condition began during service or was related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress was denied. The Board found that her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied, as she did not demonstrate total social or occupational impairment due to her service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the examiner did not provide a link between service and symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities result in loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring the use of a walker for mobility. The Board has granted specially adapted housing eligibility based on this permanent and total disability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, MDD, hypertension, and a heart disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The issues include determining service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (MDD), as well as whether his hypertension and heart disability are related to his active duty service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a low back disability and depression due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's claims will be further developed with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiners' opinions and the need for additional evidence, including SSA records.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for MDD with GAD prior to November 6, 2019 and for an increased rating greater than 70 percent for MDD with GAD from that date. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a comprehensive psycho-medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current psychological symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with PDD resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating from March 6, 2012 through June 11, 2019. The TDIU issue prior to June 12, 2019 was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The case is now remanded to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia), GERD, tinnitus, bilateral shoulder pain, low back pain, left knee pain, a right knee disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder are all remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the disorders and service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder) is denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to a level warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, finding that his pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service and that there was clear and unmistakable evidence that he had a preexisting psychiatric condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that there was no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability. The Board also found that the evidence did not support a secondary service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability may be related to his in-service motorcycle accident, but more evidence is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of alcoholism was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30% for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder unspecified was granted with a 70% rating.