Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to his service-connected tinnitus. Additionally, the case is also remanded to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The effective date for the award of service connection for IBS is denied as no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the May 2011 denial.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, depression, fibromyalgia, and a higher rating for IBS are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded in conjunction with these issues.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is remanded as the current VA examination opinions do not address causation or aggravation by his service-connected headaches. The claims for depression and fibromyalgia are also remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation or aggravation by his service-connected headaches.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IBS is remanded as the current VA examination did not address the severity of his condition since March 2016. The claim for a compensable rating for lattice degeneration is also remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded in conjunction with the increased ratings for IBS and lattice degeneration.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was granted, with a 50% rating prior to November 1, 2019.,From November 1, 2019, the Veteran received a 70% rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety was rated at 30 percent prior to October 15, 2019 and 70 percent thereafter. The appeal is remanded for further development.,Service connection for esophagus stricture, hiatal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with erosive esophagitis are also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims related to Bell’s palsy, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar strain, hypertension, and PTSD with major depressive episode. The Veteran's preexisting conditions are being evaluated for any permanent worsening during his periods of service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD based on verified in-service stressors and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and provide updated medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of such disorders in the medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examinations, missing VA examination records, and new treatment records.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, is denied.,Bilateral lower extremity neurogenic claudication is granted as secondary to the now service-connected lower back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and as secondary to his service-connected asbestosis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current psychiatric disabilities to in-service occurrences or to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for right hip disability, left hip disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and other conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's SSA records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous directives and the need for a new VA examination to assess the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a vocational assessment and VA examinations of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in severity within one year prior to May 31, 2011. The effective date for the increased rating from 10 percent to 30 percent for bilateral flat feet is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety has been reopened, and the Board has granted this claim. The claims for erectile dysfunction and left ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, as well as secondary service connection for polysubstance abuse. The Veteran's stressor during service is considered credible, and his current diagnoses are supported by medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's TBI and assault in service are considered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain recent VA treatment records and conduct current VA examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for various conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with traumatic brain injury from November 4, 2010 has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.