Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder was granted. The claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, alcohol abuse disorder, and cannabis use disorder were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and review of the Veteran's psychiatric claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, other specified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder are rated at 70 percent effective April 20, 2016. The appeal is denied for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma and other conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or are otherwise etiologically related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his military service in Southwest Asia. The claims will be reconsidered after additional research is conducted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected gastrectomy with dumping syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and B12 deficiency anemia. The decision is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his depressive disorder with adjustment disorder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 70 percent due to occupational and social impairment, but noted he had some level of social functioning.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the Veteran's depression is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been granted a 10 percent disability rating. The case is remanded for further examination regarding sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and TDIU.,The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea remains pending, as does his request for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The issue of a total disability rating based on unemployability is also pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for PTSD is denied. The Board has also remanded the case to obtain information regarding the Veteran's employment history, as part of her TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychological disorders examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service or her right ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, neurocognitive disorder (dementia)) due to lack of evidence supporting the existence of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and alcohol and/or cannabis use disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and that they are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The decision also includes remand items for further review and evidence collection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was dismissed because the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disability had its onset in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including bilateral metatarsalgia, right knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, major depression, anxiety, GERD, hiatal hernia, IBS, gastroenteritis, and sleep apnea. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and sleep apnea due to potential in-service stressors during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Additional development is needed to verify these stressors and obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a scar from pacemaker surgery was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease (including myocardial infarction) was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for the scar from pacemaker surgery was denied.,The Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities was granted.