Depression decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for TBI, thoracolumbar spine disability, right hip disability, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and service.,Service connection was also denied for depression as it is not shown to be related to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for laryngeal cancer, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and hypertension due to outstanding VA treatment records not being obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected depressive disorder. The TDIU claim has been granted, but the rating for depressive disorder remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a head laceration or injury due to conflicting medical evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the following issues: increased rating for allergic rhinitis, service connection for left leg disability, recurrent ovarian cyst, heart palpitations, and upper respiratory infection. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities have been granted an increased rating of 100%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include stroke residuals, thalamic pain syndrome, hemisensory loss, voiding dysfunction, gastrointestinal symptoms, and a mental health disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a new examination to properly consider the Veteran's inpatient psychiatric hospitalization from 1976.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of appeal by his representative.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities. The case will be returned for further development and examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his active duty service. Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing, special home adaptation grant, SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status, or automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including GAD, panic disorder and depressive disorder, is etiologically related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was found to be manifested by irritability, panic attacks, near-constant depression, and suicidal ideation. The Board determined that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating but approximated those of a 70% rating. Therefore, the claim for a higher rating was denied. Additionally, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder was granted service connection and an effective date prior to April 11, 2018.,Service connection for left hip trochanteric bursitis and right hip trochanteric bursitis were also granted with effective dates prior to April 11, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for depression, NOS was granted. The criteria for this rating were met based on the severity and frequency of symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, confusion, distraction with loss of concentration, absent-mindedness, anger, conflicts with peers, nightmares, sleep disturbance, depression, forgetfulness, verbal aggressiveness at work and home, insomnia, loneliness, panic attacks, problems with interpersonal relationships and marriage, uncontrolled tremors, inability to withstand pressure or stress, withdrawal from sex, mood swings, isolation, numbness, disturbances of motivation or mood, and flattened affect. The Veteran's symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, may be related to his service-connected disabilities. However, due to conflicting medical opinions, a remand is necessary for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depression and OCD is granted. The claim for service connection for TMJ, to include bruxism, as secondary to a service-connected condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the rating for dysthymia prior to February 26, 2019 was also denied. However, a rating of 70 percent for dysthymia from that date forward was granted.