Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's depressive disorder began during active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder prior to November 4, 2014 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder, is granted a 70 percent rating. Additionally, the Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from maintaining and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current diagnoses and whether they conform to DSM criteria, as well as the need for an addendum opinion on the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current mental health diagnosis and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for additional vocational rehabilitation and training to achieve his goal of becoming an attorney due to the severity of his service-connected PTSD, which renders it not feasible.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was initially rated as noncompensable prior to November 20, 2018. From that date, he received a 20 percent rating for the use of a penile implant.,For his depressive disorder with anxious distress, the Veteran received an initial 30 percent rating effective August 18, 2016, and was later increased to 50 percent from January 14, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder is granted, effective May 31, 2017.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability has been denied. Service connection for a right hand disability, back disability (spondylolisthesis), depression, right hip disability, and neck disability have all been remanded due to incomplete or conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional development being needed, including obtaining more recent VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left testicle removal. The decision concludes that the Veteran's current mental health condition is aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be reconsidered based on the evidence of record and any new examination results.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to insufficient occupational impairment. For TDIU, the Veteran was granted based on his service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder with panic attacks and a depressive disorder. The decision is based on evidence that links these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, anxiety disorder, insomnia, MDD, and PTSD. The evidence did not support finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and her service in Iraq. The examiner is asked to provide a rationale for their conclusion.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of anxiety and depression.