Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an effective date prior to August 14, 2014, for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD with major depressive disorder. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his right and left foot disabilities, as well as his depressive disorder.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for PTSD, Right Hip Disability, Depression, Drug Dependency, and Left Hip Disability as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen any of these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including MDD with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety disorder NOS, alcohol dependence, and personality disorders. The Veteran is requested to undergo an updated VA examination to determine these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, depression, tinnitus, sinusitis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the entire period prior to November 2, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a respiratory condition, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claims for PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, insomnia, chronic headaches, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CKD is granted. The Board also remanded several other issues including the reopening of a diabetes mellitus claim, depression, and various other disabilities.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of May 3, 2013 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), as this was when he first met the schedular requirement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent episodes of major depression is granted. The claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the need for verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, including any interaction with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for effective dates prior to January 26, 2017, for service connection of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints, migraine headaches, and tinea pedis.,The Board also granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his PTSD with MDD was denied as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, which is required for a 100% rating. The existing 70% rating remains in effect.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding no evidence of a link between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to claims of additional disabilities resulting from a 1986 esophagogastrectomy. The Veteran's OSA, COPD, asthma, depression, anxiety, and claudication are all found to be related to this surgery.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was rated at 70 percent prior to May 27, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's schizophrenia prior to March 12, 2020, was found to be sufficiently incapacitating as to functionally impair his ability to secure or follow any occupation beyond marginal employment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a distinct disability separate from his already-service-connected conditions, such as GAD and MDD, which encompassed the symptoms claimed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a mental health examination. The issues of increasing his disability ratings are still pending.