Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to April 29, 2015 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent. From April 29, 2015 onwards, his PTSD symptoms did not rise to the level required for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating. The VA has ordered further examination and development for the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, TDIU claim, and SSA records.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and PTSD, is granted. Service connection for a respiratory/pulmonary disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress secondary to a service-connected tear of the rectus femoris muscle with healed scarring, low back disorder, right knee and hamstring disorder, right hip disorder, and left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's GAD and depressive disorder are granted at a 100% rating since June 29, 2006. The TDIU claim is denied as the Veteran has other service-connected conditions that prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective from March 23, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a mental health condition, including depression and anxiety with substance abuse, is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a low back condition, respiratory conditions (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), depression, anxiety, sleep apnea, migraines, left knee condition, right shoulder bursitis, and memory loss. The claims are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, due to new evidence submitted since August 2016. The claim is now remanded for further development.

An effective date of October 29, 2007 has been granted for the grant of service connection for major depression secondary to a service-connected back disorder. The Veteran is also awarded an initial disability rating of 70 percent for major depression.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to the Veteran's fear of hostile military activity while stationed in Southwest Asia from September 1990 to April 1991. The examiner should also assess whether these disorders are caused or worsened by service-connected lumbar spine and/or peripheral neuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective from June 2, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating and TDIU remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination regarding hypertension, renal failure, and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, personality disorder, and PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and stressor development.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, and insomnia were denied as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions under the required DSM-V criteria. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a qualifying diagnosis of PTSD due to lack of service treatment records showing such a condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from February 24, 2017. The Board finds the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of a neck cyst and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination and need for further development regarding service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been withdrawn and is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU prior to May 2019.

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than major depressive disorder.