Depression decisions — 2020

A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted, with the TDIU beginning from October 20, 2009. The case is remanded for additional development regarding service connection for bilateral knee replacements and an extraschedular rating for a lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to inadequate VA examination and lack of records. The Veteran's widow provided a statement describing her observations regarding his psychiatric symptoms, but the VA examiner was unable to provide an opinion without additional information.

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus, type II prior to August 22, 2012 and thereafter is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development to verify his claimed stressors and obtain a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 9, 2015 due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is granted. The request to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a hand condition is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and antisocial personality disorder due to his failure to appear for a VA psychiatric examination without good cause. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of PTSD or a causal relationship between any diagnosed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as she had substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, including at a federal agency that paid her over $100,000 annually.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, dysthymic disorder, anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder, and mood disorder, are proximately due to his chronic pain associated with his service-connected disabilities. As such, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development as he has not provided the required VA Form 21-8940, which assesses his employment and educational history. The RO must also send him a letter requesting information relevant to determining if he is unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The claims for anxiety and depressive disorder have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted effective October 6, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his military sexual trauma during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 11, 2014 for his TDIU award due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety state NOS, and PTSD. The evidence does not establish a verified in-service stressor or injury that could be related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria prior to May 30, 2018 is denied because he does not meet the statutory or factual requirements of being permanently confined to his home.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence was presented to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for headaches. The claims for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder are also remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective prior to July 31, 2020. The Board denied a higher rating for the period beginning July 31, 2020 and granted a TDIU.