Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and claustrophobia, are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further development of evidence. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder are being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood and depression. Service connection was granted for dermatophytosis.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including respiratory arrest, low stamina, memory loss, depression, shaking of hands, cognitive changes, and verbal conception, are not considered to be proximately due to or the result of VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The claim for an increased disability rating for his left knee is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left leg scar, and type 2 diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 25, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding when the Veteran's entitlement to service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder 'arose'. The RO is instructed to obtain a retrospective medical opinion from a qualified physician to determine this date.

The Veteran's request for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to incomplete consideration of additional VA treatment records. The AOJ must consider these records in their first instance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development of evidence, including verification of periods of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death, and no effective date adjustment can be granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for Major Depressive Disorder was denied prior to October 18, 2019.,Since October 18, 2019, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Major Depressive Disorder has also been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and nervous condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbosacral spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic disorder and agoraphobia has been granted a disability evaluation of 100 percent.

The Board has withdrawn the ratings for major depressive disorder, pes planus, anemia, chronic conjunctivitis, and allergic rhinitis. The claims of service connection for bilateral shin splints and left knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, headaches, a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), fatigue and feeling winded and/or out of breath, sinusitis, left eye disability, and right eye disability.