Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as a non-specified trauma and stressor disorder including anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, is found to be related to active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring a VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and PTSD with major depressive disorder as well as the TDIU claim due to potential errors in the decision-making process.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and anxiety. The case is therefore remanded for further readjudication on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a psychiatric disability including anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, and drug and alcohol abuse as secondary to a psychiatric disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board will seek an addendum opinion from the June 2018 VA examiner or another appropriate psychologist or psychiatrist.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and MDD, but remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims regarding recognition of statements as timely NODs and entitlement to attorney fees, finding that the statements were not filed within 60 days of the July 10, 2017 decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is denied for the Veteran's left shoulder disorder and right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's headache disorder, psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder due to another medical condition and unspecified anxiety), obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and skin disorder are all granted. However, the Veteran's service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a right ankle disorder, and a skin disorder remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities can be classified as residuals of organic disease or injury, which could affect his eligibility for SAH.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury. Service connection was not established for the psychiatric disorders as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with anxiety, is granted. The claim for TDIU prior to January 25, 2017, is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 23, 2019 is remanded due to her now having a 100% schedular rating for Major Depressive Disorder. The TDIU claim for the period beginning September 23, 2019 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and effective date, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if earlier effective dates are warranted or if his current ratings are appropriate.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of a right hip disorder and psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and unspecified neurocognitive disorder. The decision is due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, which are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Board finds that his current depressive disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression, as secondary to a service-connected left shoulder disability, has been granted. However, the effective date remains pending due to the complexity of determining when the benefits should have started.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and depressive disorder, including whether his alleged traumatic experiences during service are sufficient for a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination.