Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the failure of the VA examination to address all service-connected conditions and inconsistencies in the examiner's opinions. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for an addendum/updated opinion regarding the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete verification of stressors and need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing flare-ups and occupational use of the thoracic spine. The Veteran's sleep and acquired psychiatric disorders are also to be evaluated in relation to his service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current psychiatric condition originated during or was aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active or reserve duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for residuals of Bell’s palsy were denied as there was no competent medical evidence to support the diagnoses or a link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is pending for several issues, including service connection for headaches and initial evaluations for various disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in these areas.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate etiological opinions in the November 2019 VA examinations. Further medical development is required.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records and readjudicating his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder was denied, as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation. The Veteran also had claims for service connection for adjustment disorder which were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (gastritis with duodenal ulcers and major depressive disorder) render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, OCD, and PTSD. The new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, should be remanded due to incomplete records. The Veteran is asked to provide any private care providers who have treated him prior to active service and VA treatment records from June 2020 onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, which increased her combined rating to 80 percent, made her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of September 16, 2010. The Board granted an earlier effective date for the total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) due to this condition.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and cognitive disorder NOS due to TBI and post-concussive syndrome, with MDD and anxiety disorder are granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective February 13, 2020. The lumbar strain and scoliosis with degenerative arthritis and IVDS remain rated at 40 percent as of January 18, 2020.

The Veteran is granted TDIU effective June 5, 2014. The Board also referred the case for extraschedular consideration and instructed the RO to obtain the Veteran's employment history from December 1, 2005, through June 5, 2014.

The Veteran's daughter, C. B., has significant disabilities including scoliosis, anxiety, MDD, IBS, and GERD but was not shown to have been permanently incapable of self-support by reason of these conditions prior to her 18th birthday.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of March 2, 1981.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1990 to November 2006, verifying stressor events, and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his active service.