Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, major depressive disorder, shoulder disorders, elbow disorders, wrist disorders, low back disorders, right ankle disorders, and left foot disorders. The appeal is not about service connection at all in some cases.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are denied. The claim for an increased rating for migraines is remanded.,The Veteran’s service-connected depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9411. Her claims for left and right knee disabilities are both rated at 10 percent under DCs 5260 and 5260, respectively. The claim for migraines effective August 16, 2016 is currently rated at 50 percent under DC 8100.,The Veteran's service-connected migraines are currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8100 effective August 16, 2016. Her claims for increased ratings for depression and knee disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and pseudofolliculitis barbae, as well as his claims of service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, a cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, a cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, finding that these conditions are due to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder and low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 50 percent for the period prior to October 23, 2018, or in excess of 70 percent therefrom. For the low back disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether a TDIU should be granted on an extraschedular basis prior to March 7, 2008.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for depression, an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with IVDS due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability due to his service-connected duodenal ulcer, prostate cancer, and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 11, 2010 for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder is granted. The initial disability rating for MDD remains at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further development, including an updated character of discharge determination, obtaining inpatient or clinical records from San Diego Naval Medical Center, and obtaining private medical treatment records.

The Board has dismissed all the claims as the Appellant opted into the modernized review system (AMA) and selected the Higher Level Review lane, thus terminating the adjudication of her appeals in the legacy system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depression due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being reviewed along with his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to incomplete information from the Veteran regarding his employment status during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors during service are related to his current conditions.

Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder including pervasive depressive disorder with anxious distress, major depressive episode, severe, with psychotic features, and alcohol use disorder in remission.,The Veteran's antipsychotic-induced movement disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and hypertension have also been granted service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD were granted a 70 percent rating from June 9, 2011 to January 16, 2014. A TDIU was also granted effective June 9, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent effective October 22, 2013.

The Veteran's MDD recurrent with unspecified neurocognitive disorder is rated at 100 percent effective November 27, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as his combined disability rating does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective September 11, 2015.