Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of shortness of breath, hearing loss, and tinnitus was dismissed due to his withdrawal. The remaining claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), left wrist disorder, and dental disorder were remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and migraine headaches have been granted increased ratings, but the lumbar spine disability remains remanded for further examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST. The Veteran's reported stressors have not been verified, but VA will make reasonable efforts to verify them. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The issues of initial evaluations for major depressive disorder, allergies condition, and lumbosacral strain are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and evidence review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claims under the modernized review system.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anemia has been dismissed. The claim for a TDIU based on his bilateral feet condition is denied, and the case is remanded for further evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, tinea corporis, right hand disorder, and left hand disorder.

The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, are related to his active service. His claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder was granted with an effective date of February 1, 2012. The initial evaluation assigned was 70%.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 100 percent since February 1, 2015.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been established.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, specifically addressing a claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was denied service connection as it manifested more than one year after separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service injury or disease. The claims for psychiatric, heart, cervical spine, low back, bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are remanded due to the failure to obtain examinations and opinions concerning their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, which meets the criteria for this level of impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right ankle arthritis, right ankle instability, and depression due to new evidence not considered in the previous decision.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder to include bruxism is rated at a 70 percent disability level, effective August 15, 2016.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The reduction in ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was improper and the RO must restore them.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate July 2020 VA medical opinion, which did not address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities aggravated his obesity. The examiner focused only on causation and did not consider aggravation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 70 percent prior to June 3, 2021. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met and denied an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, due to military sexual trauma. The claim is based on the presumption of exposure to such trauma.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include unspecified depressive disorder, insomnia disorder with a history of alcohol use disorder in remission, PTSD and anxiety is rated at 50 percent disabling. The appeal for an increased rating has been denied.