Depression decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, GAD, unspecified depressive disorder) and tinnitus.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The claims for coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus secondary to agent orange exposure are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for right hand and wrist ulnar nerve damage is also remanded.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, including overlapping psychiatric impairment and vertigo, are rated at 100 percent effective April 6, 2022. He also receives special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is rated at 100 percent disabling since January 30, 2009. The TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran receiving a 100 percent schedular rating for his depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder. The Veteran must provide authorization for VA to obtain records from a private inpatient hospitalization and undergo a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically whether they are related to service or aggravated by a preexisting condition.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability that meets the criteria for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right hand disorder, and left hand disorder are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and whether these disorders are aggravated by service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's GERD, binge eating disorder, and MDD/Antisocial Disorder were not granted increased ratings. The Board remanded the claims for TMJ disorder, IVDS, LLE radiculopathy, and RLE radiculopathy.

The Veteran's initial rating for left hip strain is denied as his flexion limitation does not warrant a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the lack of evidence showing that his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depression, is granted as service connected due to an in-service assault.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran is granted pension benefits from April 6, 2021 due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development, including a lack of review of additional evidence related to stressors. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions need to be evaluated again by VA examiners.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for depression and granted the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately related to his service-connected psychiatric and traumatic brain injury disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and alcohol abuse. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining all outstanding VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.