Depression decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability. The issue of a TDIU was dismissed due to the grant of TDIU effective from February 12, 2015.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, mood depressive disorder, erectile dysfunction, asthma, and bilateral leg cramps due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records, arranging for medical examinations, and determining the etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for dementia, bilateral hearing loss, and depression has been remanded due to the withdrawal of the dementia claim by the Veteran. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and depression are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be returned for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of frostbite of the feet was denied, but reopened due to new and material evidence. The gastrointestinal disability including constipation with hemorrhoids is now granted.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) were both reopened and granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her condition did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist service. The evidence also does not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of clear medical causation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his employment status over the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and insomnia is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, tension headaches, and migraine headaches with aura are found to have begun during service.,The Veteran's depressive disorder and mood disorder with major depressive-like episodes are found to be caused by his now service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a left chest injury, have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since February 1, 2013. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on this finding.

The Board has granted service connection for psychiatric disability, right ankle sprain, and hepatitis C. The matter of service connection for cirrhosis is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee post traumatic arthritis and lateral meniscus tear with patellofemoral syndrome is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to August 5, 2019 is denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating prior to March 19, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied because the increase in disability did not occur within one year of receipt of his most recent increased rating claim.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is granted as he stopped working due to PTSD on January 22, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for other specified depressive disorder. The Veteran's claims are pending further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and unverified stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered with a new examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as ethmoid sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, had its onset in service. The heart condition, obstructive sleep apnea, back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than depressive disorder was denied. The appeal regarding the initial rating of his service-connected depressive disorder was also denied, with the highest possible rating (50%) being assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, are at least as likely as not related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and back disorder.