Depression decisions — 2021

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. This reflects the severity of his symptoms which include occupational and social impairment due to deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. This reflects the severity of his symptoms which include occupational and social impairment due to deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. This reflects the severity of his symptoms which include occupational and social impairment due to deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The issues regarding the left shoulder disability and TDIU remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination for mental conditions other than PTSD, and a need for further VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum VA examination. The examiner is asked to consider all available evidence, including service records and lay statements, to determine if PTSD is related to in-service stressors and other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's attempts for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as they lack legal merit.,Claims for earlier effective dates for left lower extremity scars, unspecified depressive disorder, muscle injury residuals from a gunshot wound to the right and left legs, and metatarsalgia in the right foot have been denied due to lack of prior claims.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, but he is granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including mood disorder, anxiety, depression, iatrogenic hypospadias, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The decision is pending further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address issues related to PTSD, other specified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder prior to April 20, 2016, as well as TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Alcohol Use Disorder. The Board found that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse have been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board found that the current rating of 70 percent adequately reflects his disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder due to new and material evidence. The Board found sufficient verification of a stressor involving witnessing his friend being shot in an outpost near base while hanging out.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for OSA, Right Knee Disability, and an Acquired Psychiatric Disorder due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and cannabis use disorder, was caused or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia, is being reviewed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Depression, including providing notice regarding alternative sources of evidence for personal assault-related stressors and obtaining relevant treatment records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, specifically from Samaritan Village.