Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with a retroactive effective date of November 7, 2005. The Veteran's claim was reopened and new evidence received on November 7, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with secondary other substance abuse disorder, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD and depression was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for dizziness is remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is now rated at 50% from September 12, 2014; and a 70% rating was granted from July 8, 2019 to October 7, 2019. The reduction of the 100% rating to a 50% rating for unspecified depressive disorder on April 1, 2022 is not proper; and the 100% rating is restored. Prior to October 8, 2019, the Veteran's occupational impairment due to her service-connected depressive disorder did not make her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to determine if her symptoms warrant an increased rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for PTSD and a higher initial rating for asthma. The remaining issues of service connection for various conditions, including right knee disorder, left arm disorder, right leg numbness, left leg numbness, depressive disorder, lumbar myositis (lumbar spine disability), left knee disability, migraine headaches, chronic gastritis, and left foot degenerative arthritis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further adjudication of his TDIU claim, which was previously granted but with an effective date of April 1, 2013. The current decision focuses on the issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to September 23, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD and secondary alcohol use disorder is being remanded for further evaluation due to recent hospitalizations indicating a worsening of symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have continued since then. The decision is based on credible evidence of combat participation and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to errors in the duty to assist. Specifically, the AOJ did not inform the Veteran that a VA Form 21-4142 was invalid and therefore unable to be processed. Additionally, new opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection. The Board has also remanded the issues of obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction secondary to major depressive disorder for further development.

Major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and hypertension have been granted service connection.,Alcohol use disorder is remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU effective February 1, 2014, finding that her service-connected disabilities have prevented her from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since then.

The Veteran is granted one annual clothing allowance for 2015 for medication prescribed by VA for a service-connected skin condition. The claims for back and right knee braces are denied as they were not used due to non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric condition was not aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and for migraine headaches due to in-service sexual harassment. The VA will obtain all relevant treatment records and provide a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of her diagnosed conditions.