Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or link these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death, as it does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeals.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no medical nexus between his in-service personality disorder and his current diagnosis of depression.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,No new or material evidence was submitted that could establish a link between the current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective February 7, 2017. He is also entitled to TDIU as of that date.

The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including sinusitis, PTSD, vertigo, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), sleep apnea, and problems breathing. The claims are not currently decided on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for angina is granted. The claim for service connection for a disability manifested by vision loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded. Service connection for a low back disability is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, and sleep apnea. The claim for COPD is remanded due to potential TCE exposure. The claims for right foot disability and left foot disability are also remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they were not found related to his service or any other compensable basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected psychiatric and sleep apnea disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety has been rated at 50% since March 26, 2019. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms and impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD, are granted as they are proximately due to in-service stressors and there is credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and panic disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and he is granted an extraschedular TDIU from June 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied previously, but he was granted a 100% evaluation for his service-connected conditions effective October 28, 2008. The Appellant seeks an earlier effective date, but the Board finds no legal basis to do so.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's mental health disabilities and whether they are related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and one due to military sexual trauma. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service stressors or direct service connection.