Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating, but the claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. The psychiatric disorder claim and SMC based on aid and attendance are both remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder. The Veteran contends his depression is related to his service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes and bilateral upper and lower neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and residuals of right hand injury have precluded him from obtaining and sustaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 12, 2017. The Board has granted TDIU benefits for this period.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity venous insufficiency from July 10, 2013, to July 1, 2019.,Other ratings and claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and MDD. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if she meets the criteria for these diagnoses and whether they are related to her in-service stressor of sexual harassment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed due to their death.

The Board granted service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's initial rating of 30 percent for major depressive disorder prior to September 21, 2017 was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder not otherwise specified, and for headaches and coronary artery disease (CAD) that are secondary to the psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and personality disorder. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish that the current psychiatric conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran was granted TDIU beginning April 1, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of that date.,VA denied an extraschedular rating for migraine headaches prior to April 1, 2008.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from March 24, 2007 to August 25, 2013 due to his service-connected major depressive disorder.,SMC at the housebound rate was granted for periods of May 21, 2010 to August 11, 2013 and from August 12, 2013 to August 25, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety as due to military sexual trauma (MST), based on credible evidence of the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's OSA was caused by his service-connected depressive disorder, and the Board has granted service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to a TDIU. However, given that he is in receipt of SSA disability benefits due to primarily dysthymic disorder, there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue must be remanded for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, and adjustment disorder, is granted as service connected. The claim for migraine headaches is reopened and remanded.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 8, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.