Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and substance abuse disorder. The evidence shows that his current diagnoses are related to in-service stressors of personal assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression and anxiety, should be remanded due to errors in duty to assist and inadequate VA examination. The AOJ is instructed to attempt verification of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and schedule a new VA examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The claims for increased ratings of degenerative arthritis of the spine, peroneal or sciatic nerve weakness of the right and left lower extremities, and SMC based on aid and attendance are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected persistent depressive disorder with other specified trauma was denied as it was not factually ascertainable that the disability had increased in severity prior to March 28, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will obtain a VA examination to determine if there is a medical link between the Veteran's active duty service and his current psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, major depression and PTSD, are granted an evaluation of 70 percent disabling. The issue of entitlement to a rating of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective July 30, 2019 due to his service-connected mental health disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and depressive disorder. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of his conditions.

The claim for service connection for low back pain has been reopened, and the Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is granted. The psychiatric disability claims are remanded due to conflicting findings in previous evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is granted from February 13, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and new evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, was incurred during or caused by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him totally unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with previous hearing loss ratings and psychiatric disorder service connection. The Veteran will need a new examination for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic right shoulder pain, depression, and bilateral pes planus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or that any in-service injury caused such disabilities.,Service connection was not granted for chronic alcoholism due to lack of service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, chronic diarrhea, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD with depression and anxiety, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran was granted TDIU prior to January 5, 2009, and from October 1, 2009, to October 6, 2013.,TDIU was denied from January 5, to September 30, 2009, and as of October 7, 2013.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, is related to his active service. The claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The case needs to be further developed with a supplemental VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the retrieval of all pertinent VA treatment records.