Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information.

The Board has vacated its previous decision denying the appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including depression and as secondary to a service-connected disability. The reasons include errors in due process by VA and the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disorder, respiratory disorder (claimed due to asbestos exposure), and acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) for further development.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted effective April 9, 1985. The previous effective date of October 7, 2005 is changed to this new effective date.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease as due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted. The issues of service connection for nasopharyngeal cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, eye disability, balance/vestibular disorder, sinusitis and depressive disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent from June 22, 2015 to September 1, 2016. The appeal is denied as the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as they were not filed on the correct form and did not meet legal requirements.

Your claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as moot because your benefits have already been awarded.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of PTSD, sleep apnea, and MDD as secondary to cervical strain due to lack of jurisdiction over these issues.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of depressive disorder was changed from September 20, 2017 to March 3, 2018.,An effective date of April 25, 2018 was granted for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that new evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral varicose veins, right knee disability, left-hand broken ring finger disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia). The claims are being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination or medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg circulatory disorder and right leg pain/strain, finding that the evidence did not support these claims. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to his nonservice-connected peripheral vascular disease with osteomyelitis status post above knee amputation.,Service connection was also denied for depression and anxiety, as there is no credible medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their impact on his upper and lower extremities, as they do not result in loss of use of both upper or lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the current conditions are not related to any in-service event and there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has restored the ratings for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headache disability and unspecified depressive disorder from 0% to their original levels of 30% and 50%, respectively, due to procedural flaws in the reduction process.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his unspecified depressive disorder was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a 70% rating, and the current 50% rating adequately reflects his occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically addressing a claim based on in-service personal assault. The Veteran's VA treatment records from March 2020 onwards need to be obtained and efforts should be made to corroborate his reported in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of prostate cancer and coronary artery bypass, as well as service connection for gout, hypertension (due to service-connected coronary artery bypass), a left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,Service connection for PTSD is also remanded because there has not been a proper C&P exam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not related to his service-connected disability, and therefore denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The right knee replacement rating is granted at 60%. The hypertension claim is denied. The left upper anterior chest costochondritis (chest pain) claim is granted with a 10% rating. The PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder claim results in an initial 50% rating and TDIU is granted.