Depression decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and PTSD, finding that there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric disability to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and cause of death due to potential new evidence and need for medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression) has been rated at 30 percent since the appeal period began, but his symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for refractive error, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and tinnitus have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran is also entitled to a 50% rating for migraine headaches since the establishment of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Depression, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his active service. Service connection was not granted for Personality Disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric conditions, arthritis, head injury residuals, neck condition, and bone spurs.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. The Board finds that an addendum opinion is needed as the current opinion does not consider only his service-connected conditions and may have considered non-service-connected disabilities in regard to his employability.

The Board has found that the Veteran has shown good cause for missing VA examinations related to his service connection claims. The Board has therefore ordered new VA examinations to determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities because he did not complete and submit the necessary application form, and there was no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues related to left knee instability, left knee degenerative arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. He is satisfied with the current ratings assigned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions due to incomplete development of records from his active duty service.

For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD with depression, neurocognitive disorder, and alcohol abuse was rated at 70 percent effective October 4, 2010.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent effective July 24, 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim for a heart condition remains pending and remanded. Service connection for the left hand condition is denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent effective April 22, 2014. A rating in excess of 50 percent prior to that date was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues on appeal due to the inadequacy of previous VA examinations and the Veteran's claims file includes evidence indicating worsening of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded for additional development to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's appeal to increase the rating for his acquired psychiatric disability was dismissed because he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the 10 percent rating assigned in June 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder has been denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,Service connection for kidney disease and gout have both been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings for a left shoulder/arm disability, PTSD with depression, and spondylosis of the cervical spine. The appeal for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.