Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were remanded due to the need for additional development. The right hip disability remains rated at 20% since January 13, 2020, while other conditions remain rated as they are.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected PTSD with depression and anxiety is denied because the earliest claim was received on March 4, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD, is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD, are related to his service. The Board has granted the claim for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, blurred vision, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete communication with the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from August 18, 2009 to April 1, 2013. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular bases.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's statements about his traumatic experiences as it relates to major depressive disorder, alcohol and drug abuse and any other psychiatric diagnosis, as well as, address the December 1981 treatment record that notes the Veteran had been depressed and nervous since he broke his right ankle in service and started drinking and doing drugs while in service. The matter is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the lack of information about his education, employment, and earnings history. The Veteran needs to complete a TDIU claim form and provide additional information.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and psychophysiological insomnia, resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks from May 14, 2015 to June 17, 2018. The Veteran was granted a 30% disability rating for this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of a rating for his service-connected right eye disability, headaches, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, SMC, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral leg disability, left ankle disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), asthma, ulcers, and right ankle disability due to lack of current diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating of PTSD prior to February 22, 2019 was denied. The appeal for a higher rating from February 22, 2019 and service connection for hypertension were dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, hypertension, a sleep disorder (insomnia and/or sleep apnea), and an acquired psychiatric condition due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Veteran's statements regarding his in-service experiences are considered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient information regarding his employment status prior to February 5, 2020. This will affect the determination of a higher rating for his psychiatric conditions and whether he qualifies for TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depression, prior to May 15, 2020, and for TDIU due to service-connected disability, prior to May 15, 2020, are being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety as there was no evidence to support a link between his current psychiatric disorders and his military service.