Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and uncompleted VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide updated contact information so that he can be scheduled for additional medical evaluations.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (previously claimed as PTSD) and service connection for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to clarify his diagnoses and determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain a new examination and provide a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran’s disability since the initial claim date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress. The decision finds that his anxiety disorders are at least as likely as not related to an in-service anxiety disorder manifesting from fear of deployment in a war zone.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has granted a higher evaluation of 70 percent effective from January 23, 2020.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits are remanded due to his current employment issues and the need for a new vocational rehabilitation assessment considering his service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is also instructed to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, mood disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's claim is more accurately characterized as seeking any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and headaches due to head trauma have been granted increased ratings of 70% each, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance of another or being housebound.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lateral ankle sprain and has remanded his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was granted. The claims for prostate cancer, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, right eye residuals of pterygium, left eye residuals of pterygium, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and abdominal pain were all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, due to outstanding VA and SSA records that may contain relevant information.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with anxiety and depression, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current psychiatric disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. The appeal for an initial disability evaluation for right-wrist disorder based on limitation of motion is denied, but the issue of a separate neurological rating is remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and PTSD are related to his reported stressor while serving in combat in Kosovo. The Board finds that the current psychiatric conditions are etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further development of medical evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, substance dependence, other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress, and unspecified mood disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder, as these conditions are found to have had their initial onset during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if there are sufficient in-service stressors. The case for depression is also remanded for a new VA examination and medical opinion.