Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for PTSD and Posttraumatic Migraine Headaches before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, along with his major depression, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from November 1, 2008 to July 31, 2012. As a result, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including mood disorder, PTSD, post-traumatic insomnia, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, paranoia, and psychotic disorder (claimed as claustrophobia), is being remanded due to the need for additional records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and depression. The claim will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder do not prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

Service connection for anoxic encephalopathy and depressive disorder is restored from the date of the severance.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for Major Depressive Disorder and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's MDD claim will be remanded because an examination is needed to assess its current severity, while his TDIU claim will be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, was granted. The issue of secondary service connection for a skin disability is being remanded.,The Veteran contends that his current skin condition had its onset in service and is aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD, diagnosed as anxiety disorder) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran needs aid and attendance or is housebound based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, as there is no evidence that his current diagnoses meet the criteria for a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and that his depressive disorder began after separation from service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for cold injuries, residual of the right hand and left hand, hypertension, unspecified depressive disorder, loss of memory or TBI. The claims for a bilateral hip disability secondary to service-connected orthopedic disabilities and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe (with history of psychotic features) is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of hypothermia is denied as there are no credible in-service incidents or current symptoms related to service.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), TBI residuals, migraine headaches, left shin disorder, and right shin disorder are remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's neurocognitive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective March 11, 2017. The rating for tension headaches prior to December 5, 2020 remains denied. A 50% rating is granted for migraine headaches from December 5, 2020. The residuals of closed head injury with occipital fracture are rated at 40 percent, effective October 23, 2008 to March 11, 2017. The post-concussive syndrome with anxiety and depression associated with peripheral vestibular disorder is rated at 30 percent, effective August 11, 2004 to March 11, 2017. The peripheral vestibular disorder is rated at 10 percent from December 5, 2020.

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

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD, diabetes mellitus type II, and malaria residuals prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since February 11, 2019. The Board grants the TDIU claim for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in its June 2020 decision, including inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider certain private examination reports. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the claim for left thumb condition as it was withdrawn by the appellant. The issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to a separate rating for a psychiatric impairment (depression and anxiety) as a manifestation of service-connected hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are remanded.