Depression decisions — 2020

Your service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, insomnia and major depressive disorder has been granted. The rating assigned is 100% effective October 15, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and persistent depressive disorder. The examiner must assume that the Veteran’s reports of Scud missile attacks are credible.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disability, and a skin disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including a lack of records search for Agent Orange exposure in Korea and SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to June 19, 2017 due to his employment status and income records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. For his MDD, a rating of 70% prior to August 22, 2016 is granted but the appeal for higher ratings after that date remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and dysthymic/depressive disorder, finding no credible evidence of a diagnosis meeting DSM criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, effective February 14, 2011. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance from November 14, 2014. DEA benefits are also granted effective November 14, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and schizoaffective disorder, finding that the Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement for PTSD due to lack of a confirmed diagnosis. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking the acquired psychiatric disorder to service.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder NOS, and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to inadequate development of the record. The Board requests additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate with anxious distress began during his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various issues related to service connection and effective dates due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, respiratory, psychiatric, hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine, shoulder, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a rating increase for tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to incomplete medical opinions. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as secondary to both his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and his service-connected sleep apnea.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with a compensable degree of disability manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional records, as well as completion of forms.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, previously claimed as PTSD and depression, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by a stressor during his military service.