Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1981 to the present and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and mood disorder, is being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder is denied. The earliest possible effective date for this award is August 27, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea, finding that there is no clear evidence of their onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran is granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) for loss of use of both legs and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to multiple service-connected disabilities other than those indicating that he has loss of use of both legs.,The Veteran is also granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).,However, the Veteran's entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) remains pending as it requires a higher level of care which has not been determined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychological disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to December 30, 2015 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with instructions in a previous remand order regarding an opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his service-connected cognitive disorder. The Veteran and his representative are asked to provide releases for any relevant medical records, and VA is to obtain these records. An addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been aggravated by his service-connected cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for unspecified depressive disorder is being remanded due to non-compliance with prior Board directives.

Service connection for PTSD has been granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective from February 5, 2021.,Service connection for various conditions including heart condition, left foot condition, right and left wrist conditions, migraines, and depression have also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for depression as secondary to hepatitis C due to insufficient development and lack of an adequate opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms are related to his in-service stressors.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for major depressive disorder (MDD) has been granted at a 70 percent level, effective from May 13, 2011 to June 18, 2017. The PTSD claim is remanded due to the Board not considering whether it is secondary to service-connected MDD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in loss of use of a hand or foot, ankylosis of a hip or knee, or central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 19, 2019 is remanded due to evidence suggesting he may have been limited from securing and maintaining gainful employment due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,A 10 percent rating, but not higher, has been granted for hypertension from March 14, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on the latter issue is based on a finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or acoustic trauma resulting in current hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and depressive disorder. The case is being returned to the RO for further development, specifically to verify the Veteran's service dates in Panama and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his psychiatric condition.