Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injury to the right and left upper and lower extremities, as well as lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) has been granted.,Service connection is established for all claimed conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression disorder (MDD), should be remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), and sleep disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's contentions that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, a psychiatric disorder (specifically persistent depressive disorder), and bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the examinations provided. The Veteran is required to undergo additional VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for all listed conditions as the Veteran withdrew her appeal through her attorney prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination. The issues include psychiatric, right knee, right foot, left foot, and sinus disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for major depressive disorder and sleep apnea with asthma due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are granted as service-connected. The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, and the case for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an adequate VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from August 30, 2010 to February 14, 2014.,The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from February 14, 2014 to May 21, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and headaches, did not render him unemployable prior to November 17, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for residuals of bypass gastric surgery has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder and its relation to his service. The VA is instructed to obtain private psychiatric treatment records from D.D., LCSW and Transitions Counseling, and provide an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s diagnosed MDD.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is found to be the cause of his urinary incontinence, and a separate 60 percent rating for this condition is granted. The issues of service connection for MDD and PTSD are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has denied service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Prostatitis, and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder. The claim for increased rating of Heart Disability is remanded. Further development is needed to determine the etiology of Pancreatitis.

The Veteran's depression is rated at 50 percent effective January 1, 2018. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the case is no longer under consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of bilateral lower extremity cellulitis, bilateral hip arthritis, and throat polyps. The Veteran is also granted an increased rating for his prostatitis with BPH.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he continued to work full-time or receive leave benefits.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than January 20, 2012 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine disability and for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) were both denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of service connection for either condition.