Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected conditions, specifically colitis and depression with specific phobia.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and other issues, including a remand for new opinions on the relationship between his current conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, breast cancer residuals, cholecystectomy residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), traumatic brain injury with residuals, memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is dismissed.,Service connection granted for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and headaches as a residual of TBI.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate due to a lack of factual housebound status and inability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment based on his service-connected disabilities, specifically pseudofolliculitis and depression.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and SMC were previously remanded by the Board, but have been returned to the Board due to a Court Joint Motion for Remand (JMR).,For the period prior to July 21, 2009, the Veteran was not found unemployable based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 14, 2008. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, depressive disorder, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Board found that the current disabilities did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to active duty service.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is rated as 20 percent disabling, and an increased rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is currently evaluated at 50 percent, and an increased rating is not warranted.,An initial 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease is granted, but no higher.,An initial 20 percent disability rating for left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease is granted, but no higher.

The appeal pertaining to the issues of service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee condition, arthritis and tendonitis, an earlier effective date for herpes simplex, type II, and whether there was CUE in a March 2004 rating decision that denied service connection for limited use of the arms has been dismissed as moot.,The appeal pertaining to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was granted.,Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) and Dependent Education Assistance (DEA) were also granted from September 17, 2019.

The Board has expanded the scope of the appeal to include consideration as to whether service connection may be awarded for any acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, stroke residuals, and depression. The issues have been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's reported stressors, specifically Operation Gallant Eagle and a night jump training exercise. Additional development is needed to verify these events.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically unspecified depressive disorder, was granted a 50% rating from October 3, 2018. The condition resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Meniere's syndrome is denied as not related to service.,Service connection for vertigo and anxiety are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for depression, adjustment disorder, and anxiety is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD, hysterectomy, and hysterectomy scar are denied. The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action due to unresolved issues regarding the Veteran's claims under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being evaluated again.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA criteria.