Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new evidence linking his major depressive disorder to his death. The Board granted service connection, assigning a 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious features is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to reflect the severity of her symptoms.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol and cocaine abuse disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and insomnia disorder prior to February 26, 2020, excluding the period of June 11, 2018, to October 31, 2018.,The Veteran is granted entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and tinnitus, but has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of updated treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, a neck disorder, and headaches. The Board found that there was no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD during the pendency of the appeal and that any current symptoms were not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of decision. The Board also granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities prior to June 7, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, sinusitis and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, right and left knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma and/or major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's TBI, PTSD, and related conditions are remanded due to missing service treatment records.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and thoracic/lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are also remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding in-service stressors and sexual abuse allegations. The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood, are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder, are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome, thoracic lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and / or right knee strain and iliotibial band friction is remanded due to inadequate examination and development of records.

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder with anxiety and bruxism was denied, as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran also had his TDIU appeal denied due to his continued employment.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD and depressive disorder is denied, with a current rating of 70 percent. The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease receives an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions. The AOJ is required to obtain relevant medical records, including those from incarceration, and schedule an examination for a comprehensive opinion on the issues raised.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected low back disorder.