Depression decisions — 2020

The Veteran has been rendered unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since June 10, 2015.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU, and his employment in a protected work environment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent for the period prior to May 9, 2002. The effective date remains pending as no specific effective date was assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than depression and anxiety is being reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a right leg disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than major depressive disorder. The claim for presumptive service connection for a mental health disability was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with paranoid personality and depression was granted a 70% disability rating prior to March 16, 2018. The RO did not consider the December 2015 VA examiner's finding of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding no current disability of PTSD and insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye, lower back, neck, and left leg conditions due to their withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, Barrett's esophagus condition, and high blood pressure or hypertension are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder as there is no separate and distinct diagnosis of an anxiety disorder that is not related to his already service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for further consideration, including a TDIU issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, particularly related to his periods of honorable service. The Veteran needs to provide lay statements about any in-service assault during his honorable service period from 1976-1977 and 1981-1984, and a VA examination is required.

Your appeal for a higher rating for your anxiety disorder has been dismissed because the Veteran passed away before a decision could be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, the propriety of reducing his rating for major depressive disorder with ADHD from 60% to 40%, a higher rating for major depressive disorder with ADHD, a higher rating for primary central nervous system lymphoma with psychomotor seizures, and a compensable rating for diplopia with convergence insufficiency. The claims will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's rating for his psychiatric disability was denied in excess of 50% prior to January 30, 2018 and in excess of 70% thereafter. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed sufficient for a TDIU determination.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Major Depression, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his documented in-service stressor.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted a rating of 100 percent effective June 22, 2009. As the full benefits were granted, there are no merits to adjudicate on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was rated at 30 percent from July 9, 2010 to July 31, 2012. From August 1, 2012 to May 14, 2014, the rating increased to 50 percent. After that date, a higher rating was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% prior to September 16, 2015. From September 16, 2015, the rating increased to 50%. The effective date for this increase is September 16, 2015. The Veteran also received a grant of SMP and TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating and TDIU due to his service-connected persistent depressive disorder with unspecified social phobia was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of in-service psychiatric diagnoses and their connection to current conditions, as well as a lack of VA treatment records from August 1971.