Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all issues of appeal related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD and depression, and TDIU.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for MDD was denied prior to March 11, 2019. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher than 50 percent rating.,From March 11, 2019, the Veteran's MDD was rated at 70 percent. The Board determined that this rating adequately reflected his symptoms and impairment.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The appeal to increase this rating is denied.,New evidence has been added to the record that suggests a possible positive nexus between the Veteran’s stomach disability and her military service. As such, the claim for service connection of the stomach disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities (PTSD and other specified depressive disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder) are reopened due to new evidence that suggests a possible positive nexus between her current diagnoses and military service. The claim for service connection of the acquired psychiatric disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.,The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.,The Veteran's stomach disability (likely GERD) is remanded to determine if it is related to service, specifically the November 1981 diagnosis of mild gastroenteritis or a report of coughing up blood during service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further examination and rating consideration. The examiner must also consider whether her PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault.,The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.

The Veteran is eligible for a TDIU on a schedular basis as of August 3, 2018, and the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination, requiring a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any current psychiatric disability and whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board granted initial compensable ratings for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, and coccyx strain. The appeal of the gastrointestinal disability was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye disorder, diagnosed as legal blindness of the right eye due to macular depression. The claim of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 10 percent for traumatic brain injury with headaches is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and Depression are related to her military sexual trauma (MST) in service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for sleep apnea and major depressive disorder were denied, but he was granted a higher rating of 70 percent for his major depressive disorder.,He was also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records, as her current depression symptoms may warrant a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claims to establish service connection for a heart disability, obstructive sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxious distress features, and tension headaches have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features, obstructive sleep apnea, and tension headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether depression is related to service and whether TBI occurred during service. The bruxism claim is also being remanded due to its connection with the depression claim.

The claim of service connection for the Veteran's cause of death is reopened and to this extent only is granted. The issue of service connection for the Veteran's cause of death is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, but he seeks an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, depressive disorder, and PTSD. The claim for low back disability was reopened but still denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. Service connection for depressive disorder and PTSD were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back degenerative spondylosis, right shoulder sprain, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) have been granted. The effective date is July 5, 2006.