Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for her acquired psychiatric disorders, including adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder, is now pending.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and TDIU, finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted SMC benefits due to the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as his service-connected conditions render him unable to perform daily activities without assistance.

The Veteran's PTSD to include persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder is denied for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to January 16, 2020.,The Veteran's PTSD to include persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder is denied for a rating in excess of 70 percent from January 16, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand this case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD and other psychiatric disorders are related to his active service. The VA needs to provide a clearer opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and unspecified depressive disorder rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 30, 2010. The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The Veteran claims these conditions are related to his service or secondary to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety has been rated at 30 percent since September 17, 2015. The Board has now granted a higher rating to 70 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for antisocial personality disorder is reopened, but the Board has remanded his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete delivery of documents and a hearing request. The Veteran is also required to undergo examinations for his acquired psychiatric conditions, PTSD, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left and right wrist disorders, a lumbar spine disorder, foot pain and numbness, and depression. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for major depressive disorder is dismissed. The matter of revising the September 2002 rating decision denying service connection for personality disorder based on CUE is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors. The Veteran must be afforded a VA examination, and his submitted news articles may help corroborate his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been granted an increased initial rating of 30 percent.,Service connection for undiagnosed illness manifested by chronic dermatitis, sleep disorder, heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder have all been granted due to service in the Persian Gulf.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and fibromyalgia appeals were withdrawn.,A tumor of the right pelvic bone, blurred vision, neuropathy (including as secondary to a tumor of the right pelvic bone), and vertigo issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not total occupational and social impairment prior to August 27, 2011.,For the period from April 4, 2011 to August 27, 2011, the evidence is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's PTSD and depression resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective June 20, 2011. The Veteran's disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to a lack of a VA examination, and requests that updated treatment records be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and depression due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The claims include gastric ulcer condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), dementia/Alzheimer's disease, left ankle condition, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, skin disability, hypertension, gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and depressive disorder has been remanded for further development.,An effective date prior to October 6, 2014 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is also being remanded.