Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depressive disorder) due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus favoring the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for major depressive disorder, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depression and back injuries, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation beginning on August 1, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and alcohol abuse. The decision is based on the finding that there is a link between the Veteran’s in-service trauma and his current mental health conditions.

Service connection for OSA is granted, and the Veteran's depression is remanded for further review.,The left ankle sprain rating remains at 10 percent, and the allergic rhinitis rating remains at 0 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for depression and anxiety have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disability has been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as a right knee disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions that his current conditions were related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The appeals for increased evaluations for peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and high cholesterol have been dismissed as the Veteran did not allege specific errors of fact or law in his appeal.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied because there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted based on his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for SMC at the statutory housebound rate is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The appeal for a higher disability evaluation remains before the Board. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations and for clarification of diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder with co-existing depression. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder first manifested during service and was incurred therein.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability and TDIU was denied. The evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder disability, as flexion and abduction were limited to 90 degrees, which does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5201. For TDIU, since no single service-connected disability is rated at least 40%, the schedular threshold requirement for TDIU was not met.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, and denied eligibility for treatment of psychosis under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis of psychosis within two years after service separation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied, and he was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, NOS, is granted service connection. The respiratory disability and memory loss are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The Veteran will need a new examination to assess the severity of his conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, unspecified depressive disorder, and tinnitus.