Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is related to his service. The examiner must determine if the disability clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's back condition, Parkinson’s disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and eye condition are all granted service connection. However, the VA has not provided sufficient evidence to determine if his neck and knee conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of plantar warts, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of various conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for temporal lobe syndrome with ischemic brain damage, depressive disorder with anxiety and sleep disorder, and lumbar spine disorder, all of which are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and substance abuse disorder. The VA will gather additional records and conduct a medical examination to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability evaluation for PTSD with MDD and alcohol use disorder from October 17, 1988 through August 31, 2010 was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was granted a 50% rating from September 23, 2014 to April 14, 2015. Since then, the claim has been remanded for further action on other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has PTSD or other mental health conditions related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and remanded other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to February 26, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms of his condition have more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened due to new and material evidence. However, his service connection claim remains denied as the evidence does not establish a direct link between his military service and his current condition.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU since March 15, 2012. The appeal for an increased rating prior to that date remains denied.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and a TDIU, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion to clarify the Veteran's diagnoses, including whether he has schizophrenia. The claim is still pending as service connection.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities from October 19, 2006 and TDIU based on depressive disorder alone from October 25, 2019.,Effective October 25, 2019, the Veteran also receives SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for psychiatric and right wrist disabilities, as well as initial ratings for left knee arthritis and GERD with gastropathy. The Veteran needs to provide VA with private treatment records and scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for recognition of her daughter A.S. as a helpless child due to insufficient evidence showing permanent incapacity for self-support prior to A.S.'s 18th birthday.