Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, tinnitus, and disequilibrium, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 25, 2013. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 30, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depression with anxiety and stress was granted, but the effective dates were corrected. The appellant is not entitled to fees as no NOD had been filed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected major depressive disorder, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, lumbar spine disability, and loss of teeth are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of depression in the Veteran's case, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for updated VA records from the Brick VA clinic and a Vet Center appointment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the TDIU is dismissed. The Board has also granted a 50 percent disability rating for his service-connected mood disorder, but only prior to September 21, 2020.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic otitis media and associated right ear cholesteatoma, as well as depression and memory loss, were granted. The decision found that the Veteran's conditions arose in service and are not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for intrinsic asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and depression. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than personality disorder, to include anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The Veteran's personality disorder is not considered a disability for VA purposes, but his non-personality disorder mental health problems may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis under the DSM-IV. The VA examiner will need to review the Veteran's medical records and consider his reported stressors.

The claims for TBI, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, breathing disorder (including respiratory and sinus conditions), tinnitus, and hepatitis C have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are being remanded due to the need for further development of the medical evidence.

Your claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has already been granted and is now dismissed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic conditions. Various issues of service connection and disability ratings are also granted or remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of meningitis and depressive disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of depressive disorder, service connection for drug addiction with suicidal tendency secondary to depression, and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is rated at 100 percent throughout the period on appeal due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relation to service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to address these issues.