Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which may be related to his in-service stressors during his Vietnam service.

The Board has granted service connection for other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected varicose veins and depressive disorder with anxious distress are rated at the lowest available disability ratings, resulting in a denial of his claims for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and unclear opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, however diagnosed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, and asthma. The claim for obesity is denied as it is not a compensable condition.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU, effective April 18, 2016. The decision is based on the service-connected nature of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining inpatient hospital records from Coleman Kaserne in Germany related to the Veteran's service. The issues of service connection for a left ankle disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and/or major depressive disorder), and TDIU are all being remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is granted service connection.,Service connection for PTSD and MDD is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran’s knee, ankle, foot, and kidney conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded two issues: 1) Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD, and 2) Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety). The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder is remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2016 VA examination. A new examination is needed to assess the severity of his condition and its impact on his occupational functioning.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating from August 24, 2011. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral knee disorders due to potential new evidence received since the last final decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee strain is denied. The claims for increased ratings of other specified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (IDVS) and degenerative arthritis status post lumbar laminectomy/discectomy, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 30, 2015 is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of PTSD and depression. The Veteran's employment status is also being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, right and left lower extremity diabetic sciatic neuropathy, hypertension, right ankle degenerative disease, and left foot hammertoes, are sufficient to render him unemployable. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicides and a need for further medical evaluation of his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and personality disorder was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis have been rated, but the claim for an earlier effective date for these conditions remains unresolved.,The Veteran's asthma has also been rated, but his claim for an earlier effective date is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations and unclear notification of examination schedules.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent from November 9, 2009 to June 25, 2017. A rating of more than 70 percent for PTSD with MDD since June 26, 2017 is denied.