Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for mood disorder with depression and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, are granted as service connected. The Board found that the concurrent events during his active duty contributed to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of depressive disorder and sleep apnea were denied as there was no evidence of a timely claim prior to July 29, 2019.

The Veteran's depression is rated at 70 percent, effective October 28, 2019. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to link these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and the Board denies his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The Veteran's claim will be further developed by obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has restored the Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that there was no material improvement in his condition at the time of the reduction.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disability, and a neck disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the diagnoses and resulting impairment of PTSD, as well as a lack of clarity regarding the impact on occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is causally or etiologically due to service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received after final decisions. The Veteran's symptoms are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective from September 17, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for depression was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease was also denied, with no current diagnosis found during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is related to his in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and intermittent major depressive disorder is rated at 100% from March 12, 2019 to May 23, 2019 and from August 1, 2019 forward due to severe impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as an adjustment reaction with mixed anxiety and depression, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from July 25, 2005 through December 30, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for right knee condition, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder are remanded due to duty to assist errors prior to the February 2020 rating decision. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right inguinal hernia and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.