Depression decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression), and a personality disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of current disabilities or chronic conditions related to service.,Service connection cannot be established as the preponderance of the evidence does not support the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors, which are necessary for service connection. The Veteran is not subject to any of the relaxed presumptions relating to PTSD stressor confirmation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and excoriation disorder, are related to his service, particularly his enuresis and bullying experiences. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 70 percent, but the claim for a higher rating remains pending.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, but no greater, effective June 26, 1986. The appeal for OSA and a higher initial rating for schizophrenia with depression and anxiety remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, are granted as service connection is established based on the current medical diagnosis and the occurrence of a recognized in-service stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder with anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are related to his military service. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides and/or other contaminants at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran’s exposure and schedule him for examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to these exposures.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for antisocial personality disorder, major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and rating for bilateral flat feet due to incomplete development. The claim for service connection for antisocial personality disorder is denied as it is a congenital or developmental defect.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate from January 1, 2007 to April 22, 2008 is denied because he does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). He does not have a single disability rated as 100 percent disabling and is not substantially confined to his house due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic migraine headaches are rated at 50% prior to January 31, 2017. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, alcohol dependence, pelvic inflammatory disease, hypertension, and low back strain.

The Board has remanded the claim for an examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is related to service. The Veteran's service records show a change in performance from January 1989 to January 1990 evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals of earlier effective dates for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, finding that the November 2007 rating decision was final and that there is no valid freestanding claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence shows that the Veteran's psychiatric conditions are linked to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are found to be related to an in-service accident. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2002. The Board granted TDIU effective February 27, 2009.