Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, as secondary to his service-connected back condition. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with alcohol disorder is rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available. The Board denied an increased rating as there was no evidence of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for any period of time.

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder has been reopened and remains denied. The claim for suspect glaucoma is also denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been remanded. The initial rating of 70% for PTSD with depressive disorder prior to January 10, 2019 is granted. However, a higher rating than 70% after that date is denied. A TDIU since March 21, 2016 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Depressive Disorder and an earlier effective date for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, information regarding the qualifications of certain examiners, and further development of the psychiatric increased rating claim.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest during active service and were not causally related to his military service.

The claim for service connection of PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, depressive disorder, and insomnia, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from the date of the August 2015 RO decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and new treatment records. The issues include bilateral foot disability, gastrointestinal disability, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability (claimed as low back and lumbar spine) has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. Service connection is granted.,An earlier effective date of June 16, 2011, for service connection for persistent depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for depressive disorder was denied, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for cognitive disorder/memory loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), finding that the Veteran's current conditions are unrelated to his in-service head injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, specifically PTSD and MDD. The case is returned for further development including obtaining additional medical records and providing a new opinion on the etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for verifying stressor events in service and further examination is needed to determine if any psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for tinnitus, and the issues of service connection for arthritis, asthma, high cholesterol, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diverticulitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have also been granted. The claims for hearing loss and bilateral hands/low back arthritis are still pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder, is related to service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.