Depression decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 criteria and insufficient evidence linking the adjustment disorder to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical findings regarding the severity of the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for persistent depressive disorder, but that issue remains pending at the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's depression is related to a parachute jump incident during his military service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added to the record. The Veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol use disorder and depressive disorder due to incomplete or conclusory opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's complete records need to be associated with the claims file, and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected Parkinson’s disease was denied.,The Veteran also sought an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his major depressive disorder, which was denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder prior to December 21, 2018 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. However, the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was found to approximate a 70 percent evaluation, but not the higher 100 percent rating due to lack of total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and major depressive disorder were denied. The Veteran was also remanded for further development on his COPD and lumbar spine disability claims.

The Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer and major depressive disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since October 8, 2008. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The low back disability claim is remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis to include lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted service connection with an effective date of September 12, 2016. The Veteran's sleep apnea (claimed as sleep disturbances) and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and his claimed alcohol abuse and cocaine dependence disorders. The case is now on hold for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging an addendum opinion from a suitable examiner.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, is granted due to the evidence being at least evenly balanced in favor of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the increased rating claims for right knee, left knee, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD is granted. The Board has also remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine whether he has separate and distinct diagnoses of PTSD or Depression, which are related to active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to March 1, 2013. His full-time employment was found to be non-marginal and he received compensation for his absences.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as depression, finding that her symptoms did not manifest within a year of separation from active duty and were not related to her military service or any service-connected condition.