Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression with complaints of anxiety and memory loss, is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial 70% disability rating for major depressive disorder and PTSD is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran’s hypertension, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, requires further examination and analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, TDIU, and rating for major depressive disorder due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration and Holston Valley Medical Center.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is reopened, and the appeal is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected anxiety/depression, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea has been aggravated beyond natural progression by his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted. Service connection for basal cell carcinoma is also granted. An initial 100 percent disability rating for smoldering myeloma is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether sleep apnea is aggravated by the service-connected major depressive disorder. The Veteran's obesity, which may be related to her psychiatric disability, needs further evaluation.

The Board has granted the Appellant's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for the Veteran’s cause of death, and has remanded the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depression, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such a condition and thus failing to meet the first requirement for service connection.

The Veteran's heart disorder and depression are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions, with the heart disorder being presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding their relationship to service.,Service connection is granted for unspecified depressive disorder, as the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to service.,Service connection is denied for PTSD due to lack of a diagnosis under DSM criteria. Service connection is also denied for skin disorders and CAD, as there is no evidence of their onset in service or within one year post-service discharge.

The Board found that the Appellant's discharge under other than honorable conditions was due to willful and persistent misconduct, not insanity. Therefore, his service is considered a bar to VA benefits except for healthcare under Chapter 17 of title 38 U.S.C.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's character of discharge for the period from August 2007 to February 2009 is not a bar to VA benefits due to his mental illness, which led to his misconduct.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, finding that the evidence did not support a link between her current diagnoses of anxiety and depression and her active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of stroke, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The claim for a back disability is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings due to procedural issues, including a failure to issue an SOC on these matters. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it relates back to the original claims.