Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including major depressive disorder. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 70% rating from June 10, 2017 to January 28, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, major depression disease, bipolar disorder, and PTSD have been granted.,Other service connection claims for various conditions are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress did not render him unemployable through March 3, 2019. However, from December 9, 2015 to March 11, 2018, his combined service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified anxiety disorder and depressive disorder) as the Veteran did not experience any in-service psychological injury, disease, or event that could be linked to her current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and inadequate opinions. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, low back disability, knee disabilities, and somatic symptom disorder.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his depression and substance use disorder pre-existed service and were not aggravated by it.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, and cognitive disorder are granted as combat-related. The TBI is also granted but a separate evaluation for the TBI is requested.

The Veteran's claims for depression, bipolar disorder, hepatitis C, PTSD, and anxiety were denied as the evidence did not establish a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia, and Substance Use Disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service stressors and his current psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 11, 2015 for service connection and increased rating for other specified depressive disorder, as well as his claims for service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death and its relation to service or service-connected conditions. The Veteran's cause of death is dementia, which must be further evaluated by a mental health specialist.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety is granted. The claims for increased evaluation of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and TDIU are remanded.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type II, generalized anxiety disorder and major depression disease, and cause of death.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, resulting in the denial of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to July 27, 2015 did not prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with polysubstance disorder and major depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent from February 22, 2011 to April 26, 2013 and at 70 percent from April 26, 2013 to July 31, 2020. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to April 26, 2013 and denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is more likely than not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to their death.