Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural defects in the consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's depression is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The other conditions and disabilities have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to November 5, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development of the Vocational Rehabilitation file.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70% effective March 16, 2021. The earlier effective date for the left lower extremity radiculopathy rating remains October 1, 2018. A TDIU has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, finding that his account of in-service stressors was not corroborated and that there was no evidence of a behavioral change indicative of a traumatic event during service. The positive medical opinions based on these events were deemed insufficient to support the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and TDIU due to the need for stressor verification and additional examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, including as a continuation of in-service adjustment disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral leg disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and a psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.,There is no evidence showing that any of these conditions are directly related to military service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his unspecified depressive disorder, TDIU prior to October 30, 2015, and SMC prior to October 30, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 23, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD based on military sexual trauma (MST), depression, bipolar disorder, acute stress disorder, affective mood disorder, and schizoaffective disorder is granted. The case is remanded for further examination of her lumbosacral spine disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, is found to be related to her active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, based on the credible in-service stressor reported by the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, and depression. The claim is granted as the evidence shows a link between the Veteran's in-service stressor of military sexual trauma (MST) and her current psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including for VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim for reopening of hepatitis C service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder was granted, with the presumption of soundness at entry being rebutted by evidence showing pre-existing conditions worsened during service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner must address the Veteran's contentions of in-service events and stressors.

The appellant withdrew all his current appeals, including those for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.