Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a recent inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete efforts by the AOJ in obtaining his VA rehabilitation records and employment information. The file must be updated with these missing documents before further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder with depression and psychotic behavior, has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim and grants it on a secondary basis due to his service-connected hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a depressive disorder and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities have been remanded by the Board.,An effective date prior to April 26, 2016, is not warranted for the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD) is denied.

The Veteran's insomnia is granted a 30 percent disability rating. Service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder (claimed as depression) are denied. The Board finds the case REMANDED for further examination to determine if OSA and bilateral lower extremity PN are related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, acquired psychiatric disability, migraines, and sinusitis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 10, 1997 for the award of service connection for Depressive Disorder and TDIU/DEA eligibility. The Veteran's claim was initially filed in May 1996 but service connection was not established until June 10, 1997.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) as secondary to his service-connected kidney and bladder cancers. The issues have been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mood disorder due to known physiological conditions with major depressive episodes has been granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder for the purpose of establishing eligibility to treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is moot as she will be afforded equal or greater access to VA treatment by virtue of her now established award of service connection for a mood disorder due to known physiological conditions with major depressive episodes.,The Veteran's appeals for left lower extremity paralysis of the external popliteal nerve, right lower extremity paralysis of the external popliteal nerve, bronchitis, and ratings in excess of 30 percent for hysterectomy, 20 percent for right foot hallux valgus, and 10 percent for left foot hallux valgus have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective September 14, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, IBS, migraine headaches, spinal stenosis, and radiculopathies, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation in his previous employment as an oil driller. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from February 2, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders preexisted service and were not aggravated by service, as well as any relationship to sexual discrimination or harassment during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and generalized anxiety disorder, has been granted. The claim for PTSD based on in-service stressors is remanded due to the need for verification of alleged events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD with acquired psychiatric disabilities prior to July 8, 2015 and his TDIU claim due to incomplete records and inconsistencies regarding employment history.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 23, 2016 for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxiety was denied. The Board found that no communication regarding this issue was filed between the November 1991 rating decision denying his initial claim and the December 2016 ITF. The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with anxiety, as well as his TDIU claim, are both remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from January 23, 2015 to November 15, 2019. His service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting new examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, and anxiety. Alcohol abuse is also service-connected as secondary to the bipolar disorder.