Depression decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder due to conflicting evidence from different VA examinations, requiring further clarification of the diagnostic criteria and etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and entitlement to a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of PTSD, with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder was denied. The Board also remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient information on employment status.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection for major depressive disorder, fear of flying, and claustrophobia. The Veteran's symptoms are related to in-service events.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and depression. The Veteran's symptoms were shown in service and have persisted since then.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his back injury in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 29, 2011 for the grant of service connection for manic depression with anxiety and alcoholism. The decision found that there was no basis for assigning such an effective date.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional examination for the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically to determine their etiology and whether they clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his entry into active service.

The Veteran's MDD was not rated in excess of 50 percent prior to March 5, 2019.,Beginning March 5, 2019, the Veteran is entitled to a rating of 70 percent for his MDD.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran has been granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no nexus between his current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Board has granted a 100% disability rating for major depressive disorder, recurrent (claimed as PTSD) for the period on appeal due to total occupational and social impairment caused by symptoms such as suicidal ideation, depression, hypervigilance, anxiety, memory loss, paranoia-like symptoms, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and physical aggression.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment prior to January 3, 2020. As a result, the Board granted an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination. The issues include bilateral eye disorder, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorders (likely including depression and anxiety), and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period of September 14, 2011 to February 12, 2020 is remanded as it should be referred back to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service for reconsideration of an extra-schedular TDIU award.,Beginning February 13, 2020, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities that include depressive disorder, tussive syncope, chronic sinusitis, and recurrent tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to October 5, 2019, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for PTSD with major depression and alcohol abuse, as well as for a TDIU prior to that date. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is withdrawn.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fascitis is granted, and the appeal is allowed to that extent only.,Service connection for PTSD and depression are denied.,The Veteran’s bilateral plantar fascitis with equinus deformity is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left wrist condition and bilateral hearing loss are also remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran has not been shown to meet the DSM-V criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or depression during the appeals period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is not related to service or his service-connected right great toe condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis remains pending as it was not fully addressed in the April 2020 rating decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. The evidence now shows that it is at least as likely as not that his current condition had its onset in-service and thus grants the claim.