Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's prostatitis was rated at 40 percent prior to January 30, 2015 and remains at 40 percent from that date. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson’s disease, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI, headaches, and depressive disorder are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to December 12, 2017 are not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to new evidence provided by the Veteran. The claims are now remanded for further examination and development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 1, 2010 to present.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbar spine DDD and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the AOJ granted service connection for the psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of VA examinations and additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 70% disability rating for major depressive disorder and mood disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 100% disability rating for major depressive disorder and mood disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and a neurological disorder (including Bell's palsy).

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination and because there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including depression, began during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD, including Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. The Board found no current evidence of a diagnosed mental health disability related to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, right trapezius strain, right ear hearing loss, short-term memory loss disorder distinct from PTSD with depressive disorder and TBI residuals, initial compensable rating for TBI, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease on an extraschedular basis after November 20, 2014 has been withdrawn. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for cause of death, exposure to Agent Orange, and psychiatric disability related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including depression, and secondary service connection for depression due to liver cancer. The evidence did not support a finding that any psychiatric disorder was incurred in or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depressive disorder, are not sufficient to qualify for a TDIU due to his failure to submit the required VA Form 21-8940.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified psychotic disorder and depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his active duty service.