Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder, schizophrenia, depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been reopened. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection, and the Board finds that his GERD may be aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claims for left knee, right fifth digit, hemorrhoids, onychomycosis of the toenails, and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete records, inadequate medical opinions, and insufficient examination reports. The claims will be reviewed after obtaining additional information and evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, hernia inguinal as secondary to external hemorrhoids with pruritus ani, and chronic sinusitis are being remanded.,Special monthly compensation based on loss of use is granted effective October 7, 2015.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened and remanded. The claims for service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the service-connected disability of left testicle epididymitis, and for individual unemployability are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, right ankle disability, headaches, and depression have been reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD.,Service connection has also been granted for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's chronic pain syndrome and its relation to service. The case will be sent back for further development.

The Veteran's partial seizures, major depressive disorder, and cognitive disorder are rated at a combined 70 percent since December 8, 2008. The effective dates for these ratings need to be determined based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of exercise capacity testing in the VA examination. The service connection claims for low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's current unspecified depressive disorder is not related to his service.,Service connection was denied for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for invasive pituitary adenoma (claimed as brain tumor), with associated shortness of breath and nerve damage is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, while other claims are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with a previous remand directive regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depression and anxiety. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion on whether any psychiatric disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disability, but remanded these issues due to additional development needed.,The Veteran's hearing loss was not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and her service connection claims. The Veteran is required to provide VA treatment records, a new examination, and an updated medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder, but has remanded the cases of sinusitis and dermatitis/eczema due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder are granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a rating of 70 percent for his service-connected psychiatric condition, effective from the date of claim.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims due to his withdrawal of those appeals. The Board also granted a 100 percent schedular rating for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, effective as of January 4, 2010.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) is granted. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection of multiple sclerosis and depression due to the death of the appellant.