Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, and Parkinson’s disease residuals due to incomplete development. The AOJ must complete all requested development and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right foot, knee, back, stomach, and psychiatric conditions. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has denied service connection for a pulmonary disability and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of current evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, Hepatitis B, and a back disability. The primary reason was that the evidence did not support the presence of any other diagnosed psychiatric conditions besides alcohol dependence disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and MDD are related to his in-service stressor, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand orders and for additional development, including verifying a claimed stressor event and obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent from July 17, 2001 to March 10, 2015. The initial rating of 50 percent for depressive disorder is granted prior to March 17, 2015. Effective December 30, 2004, the Veteran's TDIU and DEA are granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating prior to September 26, 2018 was denied. From September 26, 2018, the Veteran is granted a 50 percent rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depressive disorder NOS).

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.

Service connection is granted for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the pelvis.,Service connection is granted for a depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings due to new VA treatment records being added to the file. The AOJ will review these records and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran was previously able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 1, 2010. From June 1, 2010, to August 12, 2018, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.,From August 13, 2018, the TDIU rating is moot as she has a combined 100% schedular disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and SMC have been fully granted, with the effective dates of the awards being June 2019. The Board finds that no further issues remain for consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chest pain, nerve twitching, stomach cramps, and left ankle disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.,Service connection has also been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression) secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination or medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of existing records.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of August 20, 2016, but not earlier, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for cervical and back disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to the need for new VA examinations to assess his service-connected depressive disorder and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with additional examination and opinion.