Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to his military service and granted entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's neck disability (degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine) is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right arm disability (right olecranon bursitis and degenerative arthritis) is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left arm disability, to include osteoarthritis of the wrist, is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right hand disability (right elbow disability) is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left hand disability (osteoarthritis of the wrist) is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is remanded to determine if it was aggravated by his third period of active duty or related to his first two periods.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has remanded the issue for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol use disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the provision of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder prior to October 21, 2014 are denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's depressive disorder due to hepatitis C was initially rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms did not more closely approximate a higher rating. The evidence showed significant improvement over time.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 4, 2005 through April 18, 2007 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective August 6, 2014 for dermatitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae, and a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's panic disorder with agoraphobia and major depressive disorder, single episode, is rated at 70 percent from November 8, 2007 to August 15, 2011. The Board found that the disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and did not grant an increased rating for his depressive disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information and potentially consider extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions of sinusitis, major depressive disorder, chondromalacia patella, right knee, and chronic lumbosacral strain/sprain are still under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than July 25, 2016 for a 70 percent rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence showing that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms warranted such a higher rating within one year prior to his April 2015 supplemental claim.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent from January 30, 2020 and denied for prior to that date. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is denied.

The claim to reopen the service connection for depression is granted. The claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder is remanded due to need for medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his psychiatric disorder, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, degenerative disc disease of L3-4 and L4-5, and TDIU due to lack of relevant records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, alcohol dependence, and unspecified depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since February 24, 2020. The Board remanded the case for further development.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a spleen disability. Service connection was granted for sarcoidosis, hypertension, depressive disorder, pituitary gland tumor, diabetes insipidus, fatigue disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU. Prior to January 23, 2012, the Veteran was granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B, left knee disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the hepatitis claim. The left knee and back disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of a current diagnosis or medical etiology.