Depression decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) and a compensable disability rating for fracture residuals of the right little finger. The decision found no current diagnosis of PTSD or other psychiatric disorders, and that the Veteran’s fractures did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the nature, etiology, and onset of his psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a VA mental health evaluation to assess the Veteran's depression and headache disorder. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and increased rating for headaches are also on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression with anxiety and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from July 1, 2009 to October 14, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the cases of hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and diabetes mellitus due to potential service connection issues. Specifically, it is unclear if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving aboard the U.S.S. Fresno in Vietnam waters.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, left ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, lower back condition, and headaches is denied as there are no new or material evidence to reopen the claims. The current rating for PTSD already covers her anxiety and depression symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in the previous decision, specifically failing to address the Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disability secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to a verified in-service stressor. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the condition had its onset during service or is otherwise etiologically related.

The Board denied service connection for diverticulitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder with depression disorder and unspecified dementia.,There is no current diagnosis of diverticulitis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder with depression disorder and unspecified dementia, is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for TBI, service connection for headaches, and service connection for acquired psychiatric disability including major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran needs a new examination to assess the current severity of his TBI and whether any headache or psychiatric disabilities are proximately caused by TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and schizoaffective disorder, depressive type due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of his psychiatric conditions during active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for anxiety and depression due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims for GI disability, anxiety, and depression are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to chronic pain resulting from service-connected joint disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his current unspecified depressive disorder is not related to in-service events.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder were denied, while his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for tension headaches was granted. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and that there is no nexus between the current psychiatric conditions and active service.

The Board has granted a higher 70 percent rating for the Veteran's depression, effective from the date of the November 2011 decision. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, effective dates, and TDIU due to additional submitted evidence. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The right knee pain, left knee pain, acquired psychiatric disorder, and TBI claims are also being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's tension headaches and major depressive disorder with anxious distress have been granted service connection, with a 70 percent rating since February 27, 2017. The effective dates for service connection and increased ratings are denied.