Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance, as he is able to perform his daily activities without regular assistance.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating effective November 27, 2012.,An earlier effective date for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria is denied.

The Veteran's depression is being remanded for an addendum opinion to determine if it was caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically the left clavicle and scapula dislocation or any combination of other service-connected conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the secondary service connection issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's sciatica of the left leg is rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), a left ankle disability, and a right leg disability (including right knee and right hip) are remanded due to incomplete information in the Veteran's service records.,The Veteran's left ankle disability and right leg disability (including right knee and right hip) remain unresolved as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not show a direct relationship between these conditions and his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current conditions are not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and determine if any units he was assigned to could have been in Thailand during his service.

Service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected residuals of right knee medial meniscal tear (right knee disability), based on limitation of flexion, is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxiety, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, and the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination for service connection of depressive disorder. The Veteran is currently in receipt of service connection for other conditions, but his current depression may be related to or caused by these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial increased disability rating for persistent depressive disorder and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with insomnia is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his AMA appeal during a hearing.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified personality disorder, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, cyclothymia, and adjustment disorder, due to a lack of evidence supporting the presence of these conditions during or immediately prior to the claim period.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and either service or the service-connected hysterectomy.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for ED was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The appeals for increased ratings of cluster headaches, onychomycosis, and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of depression and anxiety, which were present during his active duty service and exacerbated by military stress. Therefore, the Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been granted. The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, nerve damage of the tongue, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and agoraphobia with panic attacks), and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD (claimed as anxiety and depression), is rated at 50 percent since September 29, 2017.

The Veteran's headaches, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability are found to be related to service. The depression is not considered secondary to a service-connected condition.