Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU from July 16, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea, finding that further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to procedural errors in previous decisions. The issues include an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, Hepatitis C, and a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is reopened, and his right shoulder disability is granted as secondary to his left shoulder disability. The case is remanded due to the need to obtain updated treatment records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) have been granted. The claim for PTSD was denied.

A higher 50 percent rating for tension headaches is granted even prior to January 24, 2019.,The Veteran's Tension Headaches are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines and no further increase in rating is warranted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with insomnia was granted a rating of 70 percent effective June 6, 2019. Prior to this date, the condition had been rated at 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a psychosis for treatment purposes only, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a mental health disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and depression, are granted as service connected. Bilateral hearing loss is also granted as aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was withdrawn, and his claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for MDD is granted.,His MDD is currently rated at 70 percent due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for unspecified anxiety disorder and depressive disorder with unspecified schizophrenia is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a 70 percent disability rating, but no higher, throughout the claim period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD (claimed as PTSD with depression and anxiety) is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating, due to total occupational and social impairment caused by symptoms such as intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses and the in-service stressor needs further corroboration.

The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral foot disorder, depression and anxiety (psychiatric disability), left knee disability, and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. These claims are now remanded for further review.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted a higher rating from January 4, 2020. The right knee disability remains at the 10% level.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression. The Board has remanded the case to address whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a March 2011 rating decision that awarded service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression. The decision found that there was no evidence of in-service psychiatric symptoms or diagnoses, and that current psychiatric disorders were not related to any in-service stressful events.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression and insomnia disorders, as well as secondary service connection for depressive disorder, insomnia disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder requires the care or assistance of another on a regular basis, and the Board has granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.