Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, chronic headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) require additional development due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of his service-connected back disability and whether his depression is aggravated by his service-connected back disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is denied as he does not have a current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type I or II.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right-hand disability and his claimed major depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death or disability rating was not totally disabling for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been productive of total occupational and social impairment for the period between July 31, 2013, and July 12, 2019 (exclusive of the temporary total evaluation assigned from May 20, 2014, to August 1, 2014).

The Board's decision is vacated as it did not have jurisdiction to issue a decision on the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression associated with prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy.

The Board has denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for post branchial cyst residuals and remanded the issue of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, headaches secondary to tinnitus, and chronic prostatitis. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned. The right testicle atrophy claim was denied due to lack of complete atrophy in both testicles. Effective dates were not granted earlier than July 31, 2012 for right testicle atrophy and October 25, 2013 for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his major depressive disorder and left foot injuries is being remanded for further review of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of a rating in excess of 20 percent for a residuals of a right shoulder disability. The remaining issues related to secondary service connection have been resolved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, sexual abuse of adult, depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression. The evaluation of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is also being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable, despite his assertions and reports of employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly concerning his urticaria, PTSD with depression, and left lung disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, finding that it had its onset in active duty service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including Major Depressive Disorder and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, was granted a 50% rating effective April 5, 2019. The condition is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.