Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to incomplete grant of benefits and issues potentially intertwined.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD due to MST) as they must be further evaluated with additional military records.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was restored from 30% to 50%. The VA found that there was no sustained improvement in the Veteran’s ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work as a result of her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder effective June 24, 2018. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, as well as TDIU, are remanded due to the lack of VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for depression and headaches due to a lack of VA treatment records, which may contain relevant evidence. The Veteran will need to provide these records or their availability will be determined.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired mental disorder, including depression and PTSD, is related to her military service. However, due to insufficient rationale in the medical opinion provided, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, left wrist disability, adjustment disorder, and severe depression due to potential mental health conditions at the time of misconduct leading to the Veteran's discharge under other than honorable conditions. The case is also being remanded to determine if the Veteran was insane at that time.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, renal failure, COPD, and right lung disability. Service connection was granted for renal failure due to presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether depression is related to service. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to provide more detail and a VA examiner will conduct a new examination.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected depression and pseudofolliculitis. He is also granted special monthly compensation for aid and attendance, but not at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and affective disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU rating effective October 19, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to insufficient information regarding his service in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, which is necessary for proper adjudication of all appealed issues.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent from September 12, 2011 and onward. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia and PTSD, finding that his personality disorders pre-existed active service and were not aggravated by such service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating in excess of 70 percent for Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and no increased rating is warranted.,For the period from January 4, 2012 to January 10, 2017, the Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS warrants a 20 percent rating. However, for the period after January 10, 2017, no higher than a 20 percent rating is warranted.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE) from July 21, 2015 warrants an initial 20 percent rating.,PTSD with depression was rated as 70 percent disabling from July 1, 2015 to January 10, 2017. A TDIU is granted for this period.,TDIU prior to July 1, 2015 and from January 10, 2017 is granted.,An effective date of July 1, 2015 is granted for DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.,Issues related to TDIU prior to July 1, 2015 and from January 10, 2017 are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder. The claims for left and right hip disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination.