Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 5, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including higher ratings for service-connected disabilities and an earlier effective date. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these other issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's alcohol abuse, obesity, and Major Depressive Disorder. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing PTSD did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during active service beyond normal progression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric condition, including major depression and PTSD, is granted a 50 percent rating. Ratings of 20 percent are granted for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Right ear hearing loss remains at Level I.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent depressive disorder, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by a disease or injury in service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition due to reported worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD, to include as secondary to seizure disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's depression is related to his service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, mood disorder, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder. Service connection was also denied for peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders (ALS and PSP), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) due to insufficient medical opinions provided in previous decisions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his legacy appeal in favor of the modernized review system under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus have been withdrawn.,Claims of service connection for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorder (to include depression), right foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and bilateral eye disability (exotropia) have been dismissed due to lack of timely appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and his service. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service, as well as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, increased ratings for chronic shoulder strains, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for hypothyroidism was denied because the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. His initial rating for anxiety disorder with primary insomnia and depressive disorder prior to June 19, 2012, remains denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, and completing and returning a VA Form 21-8940 regarding his unemployability.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis and PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder are being remanded for further development. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right wrist disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 27, 2015 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are remanded due to incomplete records and need for a new VA examination.