Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, was granted an evaluation of 70 percent for the period prior to May 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD, alcohol use disorder and bruxism was denied. The case is also remanded for further consideration regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the February 2020 VA examiner regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection. The Veteran also has a spine disability, major depressive disorder, bilateral foot disabilities (plantar fasciitis of both feet and acquired pes cavus), and is seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, effective from December 23, 2009. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a nervous disorder, but denied the claim of major depressive disorder. The issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was granted with an effective date of January 23, 1981. The rating assigned is 10% from that date to July 25, 2017 for the left foot disability and from April 25, 2016 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, eye disability, and psychiatric disability (depression). The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not related to his service. His diabetes mellitus, type II, was not shown within one year of separation from service. His eye disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition. His depression is considered as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.,The Board also denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is related to in-service exposure to various environmental hazards, including the open sewage pit and hazardous chemicals.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) secondary to service-connected Parkinson's disease is granted. The cognitive disorder is also granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder, but denied the TDIU claim as the Veteran was employed full-time prior to March 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks) due to insufficient examination and medical nexus opinions.

The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, anxiety and alcohol use disorder due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective March 1, 2019. The VA also granted basic eligibility for DEA benefits on the same date.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to March 1, 2019 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected major depressive disorder is granted, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded. The Board has also taken jurisdiction over the issue of TDIU as part of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the May 2021 VA examination in differentiating symptoms attributable to the service-connected condition from those of a nonservice-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD, is related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The appeal for service connection of neurobehavioral effects (depression/anxiety) is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted an annual clothing allowance for the 2016 calendar year due to wear and tear associated with the Veteran's use of a wheelchair, which is used as part of his treatment for service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, along with his lumbar spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current diagnosis for service connection, and now requires a new VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to active military service.