Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD and depression) due to a lack of recent VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations to assess these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), and a heart condition. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations to determine the nature of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied due to the lack of corroborated stressor. The acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, specifically depression, is granted as it was incurred during service.,Service connection for insomnia secondary to service-connected psychiatric disability (depression) is granted. Service connection for hypertension is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 30, 2009, for the award of service connection for PTSD, a generalized anxiety disorder, a major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse is denied. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, a generalized anxiety disorder, a major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse, and entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and major depressive disorder, is granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, and heart disability are remanded due to the need for further development regarding potential herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since July 25, 2013. The Board has remanded the case for consideration of an extra-schedular TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is denied due to lack of verified stressors and insufficient medical evidence linking the conditions to service. The claim for a temporary total evaluation due to treatment for PTSD is also denied as there is no established service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a heart condition was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection for cold injury residuals and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction, depression, and prostate cancer were denied as there is no evidence of their onset during service or a link to service.,Service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within a year after discharge.,Service connection for the growth on the back of his head is denied because there is no medical evidence showing it was present during service or at any time since then.,Service connection for depression is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other anxiety disorders, was denied as there is no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is granted. The claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied as it does not meet the criteria due to his TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions and seeking initial ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings. The Board has remanded these matters to obtain additional examinations and evidence.,The Veteran is seeking an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), and lumbar disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression is granted as it was incurred in service.,Tinnitus is denied because it manifested more than one year after separation from service and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event, injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and anxious distress has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD with other specified depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent effective November 29, 2013. The appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran now has a 100 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen their claims for service connection for a nervous condition and depression. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been remanded due to new evidence received since the previous denials.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right shoulder sprains have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder prior to September 17, 2017 has also been denied. However, he is now granted a 70 percent rating since that date.