Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and outstanding VA treatment records. The claims include service connection for acquired psychiatric conditions, residuals of venereal disease, prostatitis, prostate cancer, pleural plaques, and a bilateral knee condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete documentation and authorization requests. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for treatment records from Dr. CEMQ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach condition (Crohn's disease), tinnitus, and depression, including as secondary to the stomach condition. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches was granted.,The Veteran's claim for an initial higher rating of major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder prior to October 25, 2018 was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected diabetes and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression and opiate dependency in remission prior to February 17, 2021 is rated at 50 percent. From February 17, 2021 to June 4, 2021, the rating is increased to 70 percent. However, from June 4, 2021 onwards, a higher rating of over 70 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and an unspecified anxiety disorder. Service connection was denied for hepatitis C and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The claim for reopening of the seizure disorder claim is denied.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, somatization disorder, and anxiety. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence. The case will be reconsidered with the new information.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases in its previous decisions, including not considering symptoms that support a 100 percent rating for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left inguinal hernia surgery, left inguinal hernia, and tinnitus. The preponderance of evidence supports these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development and evidence collection, including obtaining records from the U.S. Army Crime Records Center regarding an assault during service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has resulted in unemployability due to his symptoms affecting his ability to work.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to render her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from June 5, 2020. The Board finds that the combined effects of her major depressive disorder with PTSD, chronic cough, and irritable bowel syndrome preclude her from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's depression was reasonably shown to have been related to service, and the Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with anxious mood. The decision is based on credible evidence of a personal assault stressor during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his unspecified depressive disorder.,Service connection for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to self-care for some daily personal needs and to protect herself from the hazards of daily life without the assistance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for A&A.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected chronic tonsilitis with pharyngitis.