Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and coronary artery disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been reopened and granted. The claims regarding other disabilities have also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD, is granted as service connection is established due to the presence of a diagnosed condition related to an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, will need to be evaluated again and his TDIU rating will also be reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include alcohol dependence, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified depressive disorder.,Service connection has also been granted for a bilateral pelvic disability and lumbosacral strain disability. However, service connection is being remanded for headaches/migraines.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are granted as service-connected.,From June 17, 2008 to September 30, 2008, the Veteran is entitled to a temporary total rating for panic disorder due to hospital treatment. From August 15, 2014 to November 12, 2020, she is granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The psychiatric disorder claim is related back to service, but the carotid stenosis status post stent claim requires further examination of its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of MDD, residuals of a fractured nose, left shoulder nerve damage and numbness, left ankle disability, and residuals of a broken rib have been REMANDED due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development. The TDIU and DEA benefits claims are also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors, including a need for stressor verification and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified sleep wake disorder with unspecified depressive disorder (previously claimed as insomnia) is denied. The effective date would be September 5, 2020, which is the later of the date of claim to readjudicate and the date entitlement arose.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric and ankle disabilities. The AOJ must obtain new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's right knee residuals status post total knee replacement resulted in a preexisting condition being aggravated by VA medical treatment, warranting an effective date of January 10, 2011 for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for allergies, chest pains, headaches, sleep problems, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability.,New evidence includes VA treatment records indicating diagnoses such as insomnia, anxiety, migraines, adjustment disorder with depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's history of service-related symptoms is also relevant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and depression, tinnitus, bilateral foot disorders, left knee disorder, bilateral sciatic nerve disorders, and sinusitis, have all been denied. The Board found no current disability associated with the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted with a 70 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case for obtaining VA treatment records related to depressive disorder and SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status, as these could impact each other.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and nexus opinion regarding the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mood disorder. The claim is being returned to the RO for further action.