Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder, is granted. The Board found that the evidence supports a finding of service connection based on stressful experiences during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder) as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes cavus. The decision also remanded the issues of service connection for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and the need for VA treatment records and stressor verification.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to failure to report for the scheduled VA examination.

The appeal is dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and there are no surviving claimants eligible for substitution.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new psychiatric examination and addressing secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, and the increased rating and TDIU claims are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran's current PTSD symptoms are associated with his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total social or occupational impairment, thus denying a 100% rating for PTSD. For TDIU, while he met the schedular criteria with his combined disability rating of 80%, the Board determined he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that there is new and relevant evidence for the previously denied claims of service connection for GERD, IBS, unspecified depressive disorder, and skin condition (basal cell carcinoma). The Veteran's claim will be remanded to obtain a VA examination and correct any pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development and a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further action regarding whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the April 2014 rating decision and August 2015 SOC, as well as whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to his acquired psychiatric disability, as well as his claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The reasons are that VA failed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and the December 2020 VA examiner improperly relied on lack of service treatment records in providing a negative nexus opinion.

The Veteran's left eye disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected cluster headaches.,The Veteran has been in receipt of a 100% rating for an unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder and insomnia disorder since June 27, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relation to service. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to June 5, 2017. The Board also granted a 60 percent extraschedular rating for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and readjudicating the issue of separate disability ratings for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, caused deficiencies in most areas of his life since May 7, 2012. The Board granted an effective date of May 7, 2012 for the assignment of a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, and TDIU.