Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD, Depressive Disorder, and Alcohol Abuse Disorder. The Veteran's symptoms need further evaluation by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran's GAD is granted at a rating of 30 percent for the period from February 22, 2012 to October 10, 2019 and at a rating of 50 percent thereafter. The issues regarding hypothyroidism and TDIU are remanded.

Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for prostate cancer is denied.,Service connection for sleep condition is denied.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, including Nervousness with Persistent Depressive Disorder is granted. The claims for service connection of Right Hip Disorder, Left Hip Disorder, and Lumbar Spine Disorder are granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service, specifically his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's initial rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety, is granted at a 70 percent level. However, the appeal for ratings more than 70 percent for this condition after January 23, 2018 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that her education and work experience did not preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a higher rating for PTSD and MDD, beginning October 24, 2014. The VA examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing the symptoms of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their impact on his social impairment.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, manic depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, mood disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and antisocial disorder due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are related to service or caused by his service-connected seizure disorder, and to identify all currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted service connection effective May 28, 2015.,A disability rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran is granted an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD from July 10, 2014 to December 1, 2014. A higher rating greater than 50 percent is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and PTSD as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is related to military sexual trauma he experienced during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD due to MST, and depressive disorder was denied as her condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the appellant was insane at the time of his offenses leading to his discharge from service. The VA is instructed to obtain a new medical opinion and provide the appellant with another opportunity to submit additional evidence.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and insomnia) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to failure to comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran was not afforded VA examinations as requested in the May 2019 Board remand.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The depression component remains unknown as it does not affect the current rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected conditions.