Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to reimbursement of $7,392.00 for expenses incurred during her surviving spouse's last sickness and burial.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than major depressive disorder (MDD), finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The appeal regarding a low back disorder is remanded and will be decided on its merits.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left hip disorders (claimed as arthritis), right hip disorders (claimed as arthritis), bilateral tinnitus, and a mental health disorder or PTSD. The decision found no credible evidence of in-service injuries or diseases that could lead to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence was denied in August 1991, and he did not appeal. The effective date of the grant of service connection is March 14, 1991. For the period prior to April 10, 2009, his symptoms were mild and intermittent, without significant impairment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression was reopened and granted. The effective date is July 16, 2013.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Veteran did not submit evidence demonstrating current tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate disorder, kidney disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to service connection issues. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiologies of these conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claim for service connection for an enlarged liver, secondary to diabetes mellitus, and for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is remanded.,The claim for service connection for insomnia, secondary to a psychiatric disorder, is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol dependence due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for OSA, and a temporary total evaluation for a service-connected disability requiring convalescence has been dismissed.,An initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for major depressive disorder with anxious distress (depression) is granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for examinations, medical opinions, and verification of the Veteran’s PTSD stressors due to the Veteran's no-show at scheduled appointments. The claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation benefits for his dependent spouse and child was denied as the evidence did not show that he provided proof of dependents within one year of notice of the rating action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety is September 17, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for limitation of flexion and abduction of her left hip are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for rhinitis has been denied as there was no prior claim received before February 23, 2012.,The Veteran's initial rating for rhinitis is also denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma, is granted. The claims for right and left knee DJD, bilateral hearing loss, upper back and neck conditions, infertility or miscarriage are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a TDIU claim. The initial compensable disability rating for residuals of rectal fistula repair is denied, while the noncompensable disability rating for surgical scar, rectal fistula repair remains in effect.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and a depressive disorder) have been reopened, and the evidence supports these claims. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of PTSD and depression, which are causally related to his verified in-service stressor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision affirms that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder are related to his military service.

The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of Veteran’s death and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 based on treatment at a VA medical facility, finding that neither condition was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or error in judgment due to treatment provided at a VA medical facility.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with MDD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension were both remanded, as there is no presumptive basis based on Agent Orange exposure.