Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and evaluation.,No new rating assigned as the maximum schedular ratings were not assigned for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and further development is needed. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, depression, and vascular dementia, will be reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for PTSD was granted with a 50% disability rating effective July 3, 2003. A separate issue of service connection for Depressive Disorder is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability. The Veteran's lower back disability and major depressive disorder are granted as secondary to his lower back disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and TDIU prior to December 11, 2017. The remand includes requesting additional medical records, scheduling examinations, and determining the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, anxiety, and insomnia as they are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including whether PTSD is present or related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD was denied, and the earlier effective date claim for an increased rating was also denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for a psychiatric disorder, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records indicate he had sleepwalking issues and alcoholism during service, which may be related to his current mental health conditions and knee pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and lack of adequate medical opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea, specifically on a secondary basis. The Veteran's major depressive disorder and/or chronic fatigue syndrome are being examined to determine if they caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and stimulant use disorder are rated at 70 percent prior to January 10, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating due to the severity of his symptoms not warranting a 100 percent rating.,Tension headaches were granted a 10 percent rating effective February 1, 2017 and a 50 percent rating from that date forward.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's improved performance during service corroborates his claimed in-service sexual assault. The VA is instructed to obtain a medical opinion from a VA psychiatrist or psychologist to address this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, require further examination and development. The case is being remanded to allow for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's hypertension, psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and depressive disorder), hyperlipidemia or dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), diabetes mellitus, heart disability, and heat exhaustion residuals were not shown to have originated during active service.,Service connection for these conditions was denied as the evidence did not establish a relationship between the disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to a service-connected back disability. The claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. A rating of 50 percent, but not higher, is granted for tension headaches with migraine features.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed neurocognitive disorder and whether it is related to service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased rating for depressive disorder, SMC based on aid and attendance, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied because the Board finds that he did not incur an additional disability following his June 24, 2005 VA hospital care.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TBI, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will need to obtain additional records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since September 2, 2020. The rating will remain in effect until further notice.