Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by his military service. Service connection for sleep apnea is also granted.

Service connection granted for undiagnosed illnesses with various symptoms, including primary angiitis of the central nervous system (vasculitis), memory loss and difficulty concentrating, skin rash, migraines, and psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and PTSD with secondary persistent depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding his ability to work due to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and his major depressive disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with insomnia, depression, and anxiety is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and seborrheic keratosis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his psychiatric disorder was denied, and the grant of TDIU effective October 2, 2011 is also denied.

Service connection for migraine headache disorder, low back disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder is granted.,Service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and an antisocial personality disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's MDD was found to be rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition.,Service connection for hyperthyroidism was granted as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and his private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, characterized by PTSD, GAD, and depression. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service combat experience and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for PTSD was granted, with a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, MDD, and schizophrenia, is related to an assault in service and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and granted increased ratings of 20 percent each for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, as well as initial 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability. The Veteran's appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Perry Point VAMC and Balboa Naval Hospital. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST) is pending.

The Veteran's TBI with MDD caused occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the period from June 25, 2015 through November 13, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of MDD separate from his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40% and right lower extremity radiculopathy at 10%. The acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) prior to September 23, 2016, is not rated higher than 30%.,No new rating is granted for the Veteran's low back disability or right lower extremity radiculopathy. The acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) from September 23, 2016, is not rated higher than 70%.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Lyme disease, left knee disability, right knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder) have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.