Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder and a chronic disability manifested by respiratory symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness have been denied as the evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD with TBI are rated at 70% effective October 31, 2016. He also received separate ratings for headaches and vertigo due to TBI. The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression are related to his service in Vietnam, including combat duties. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed in a supervisory position.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection and increased ratings. The claims will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the cases of right knee injury, pilonidal cysts, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, lumbar spine disorder, left ankle disorder, numbness of the feet, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral hip disorders have been reopened. The appeals are granted to these extents only.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional evidence being needed, including medical articles and lay statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary or aggravation service connection.

The Veteran's right hand fifth metacarpal disability was denied a compensable rating, but service connection for low back and left knee disabilities were granted.,Service connection for sleep disorder to include insomnia, depression, and anxiety disorder was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is remanded due to the need for authorization of private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete scheduling of VA examinations and lack of communication with the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his psychiatric condition was dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in November 2019, stating satisfaction with the decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence, including verification of in-service stressors. A new VA examination is needed to determine if PTSD or other psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, and a TDIU is granted from May 1, 2014. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis was rated at 40% from May 16, 2019 onwards and depression was granted a 70% initial rating from January 31, 2006 to August 30, 2016. The Veteran is now entitled to TDIU.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an increased rating of lumbar spondylosis and depression.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and insomnia disorder, as well as GERD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome. A 10 percent rating is granted for sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was granted. The claims for hypertrophic lichen planus, gout, lung disability, and diabetes were remanded due to insufficient information regarding herbicide exposure.