Depression decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting diagnoses and a need for additional evidence. The appellant's statements indicate he may have experienced symptoms of depression in service, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of dental disorder is dismissed. The psychiatric disorder claim, including PTSD, was reopened and granted. Service connection for depressive disorder is established. Low back disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae claims are also granted. A throat disorder claim (claimed as gastrointestinal) is pending. The left ankle disability rating remains remanded.

The Board has vacated the decision regarding service connection for hypertension due to a failure of due process. The appeal is remanded for further development on all issues, including service connection and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran is required to be examined by a VA examiner to determine if she has a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability related to service, including personal assault stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his persistent depressive disorder with social anxiety disorder has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a memory disorder and for an increased disability rating for depressive disorder. The decision found that the Veteran's current memory loss is a manifestation of symptoms related to his service-connected depressive disorder, and thus not separate from it.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD with major depression, opiate dependency in remission is being remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and consideration of her current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and possible relationship of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection are therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with symptoms of depression and anxiety, is granted. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases of fecal incontinence, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder is granted from February 9, 2016 to June 1, 2020. The issue of total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, right-hand and left-hand peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and bilateral pes planus. The claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy are denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by accidental mixed drug intoxication, and the Board found that his service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a proper VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is now before the RO for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in a January 2021 rating decision, covering the entire period on appeal. As this grant resolved all issues, the Board dismissed the case as moot.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and strain, sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and cellulitis have been granted service connection. Effective June 29, 2017, the Veteran has also received a 100 percent schedular rating for his major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. Additional development is needed to clarify the onset of these disorders in light of the Veteran's two periods of active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's work history, which is necessary for determining eligibility for total disability based on individual unemployability. The issues of service connection for low back disorder and major depressive disorder have been resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further development, including another VA examination.