Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the claimed suicide event and the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of additional service personnel records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder are being reviewed based on his reported in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to ensure that VA's duty to assist was satisfied. Specifically, the Veteran’s in-service injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident on August 11, 1990 are at issue and medical evidence of treatment immediately after the accident is relevant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a left foot disability due to incomplete evaluations and the need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% prior to July 21, 2019 and denied a higher rating. From July 21, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70%, which is also denied. The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, depression, and an acquired psychiatric disorder manifested by addiction and substance abuse.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus due to potential in-service emotional injury, lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under current criteria. The decision also granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his own willful misconduct (alcohol dependence and depression), but also found that these conditions were incurred during service, thus granting service connection for cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his bilateral total hip replacement.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, depression, stress, and alcohol abuse. The issues of service connection for these conditions are now remanded due to new evidence received since the last final decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder has been granted. Service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus is also granted. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depressive disorder, remains at 30 percent prior to May 29, 2019, but increased to 70 percent since that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his psychiatric disability and for a TDIU rating due to outstanding VA treatment records and further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee and depression, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to December 7, 2012. The case is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an increased disability rating for Bell's Palsy and service connection claims for Major Depression, Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, Gastrointestinal Disability (Acid Reflux), and Erectile Dysfunction. The Board also reopened the claim for service connection of Major Depression as secondary to service-connected Bell's Palsy.

The Veteran's MDD is granted at a 100% rating throughout the appeal period. The sinus disability issue is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI with cognitive and psychiatric manifestations resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating from October 23, 2008 to November 28, 2016. The current ratings under DC 9304 are replaced by the 50% rating granted herein.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.