Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion in a previous decision, and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current persistent depressive disorder is less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD with depression and memory loss was granted, with the Board finding that his impairment more closely approximates deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depression disorder with generalized anxiety disorder was denied.,Service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to various mental health conditions, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and paresthesia of skin. The remand requires additional development such as obtaining updated VA and/or private treatment records, requesting SSA disability benefits records, scheduling a VA examination for the etiology of psychiatric disorders, and scheduling another VA examination to determine the etiology of the claimed chronic fatigue and myofascial pain disorders.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including aplastic anemia with thrombocytopenia, unspecified depressive disorder, chronic diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, and shortness of breath with exertion.

Your claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder, has been dismissed as moot because your PTSD was already granted in a June 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's initial rating for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is denied as his diabetes does not require insulin or regulation of activities. The service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability, including DDD and osteoarthritis, is also denied due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or a nexus to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The AOJ is to verify in-service stressors related to the Veteran's service in Korea and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and PTSD with depression. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions and entitlement to a TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to major depressive disorder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology and relationship between these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development being required. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently considered direct service connection cases.

For the period prior to July 3, 2019, a disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder was granted. For the period from July 3, 2019 onward, a higher rating is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability and hemorrhoids, but has determined that further development is needed to address the remaining issues of service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, left leg disability (including radiculopathy and leg shortening), forehead scar, and psychiatric disability. The decision on these issues will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran will need to provide his pay records from March 1973 to July 1974, verify his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), obtain his treatment records at the Vet Center, and undergo a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again to ensure all necessary records are obtained and a proper medical opinion is provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation of the significance of a 33-year gap between the Veteran's military service and his initial diagnosis of depressive disorder. The claim is now pending for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development including verification of stressors and a VA examination.