Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, Persistent Depressive Disorder with Intermittent Major Depressive Episodes and Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder, and Left Ear Hearing Loss have been granted. The service connection is presumed based on combat exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and PTSD have been reopened. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is denied, as there is no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions. Service connection for PTSD was not granted due to lack of in-service stressor confirmation. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD and total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling for the entire period on appeal, effective as of January 3, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and hearing loss/tinnitus disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a right leg disorder (snake bite), low back disorder, gout, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, major depressive disorder, and migraine headaches. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year of discharge, and the Veteran's assertions regarding secondary service connection were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 25, 2017.,The Veteran does not have a need for regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's heart condition is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted at 50 percent prior to March 20, 2012, and at 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, due to incomplete development of the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and a need for a medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability. The reasons given were that there was no clear evidence of an in-service injury or disease leading to these disabilities, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as her service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for depression, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his service-connected bilateral heel spurs.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD. The issue of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including as secondary to service-connected left wrist disorder, due to insufficient evidence on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's condition. The case will be reviewed with additional medical opinions considering all theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70 percent since November 9, 2021. The TDIU was granted effective from January 31, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, a headache disorder, and major depressive disorder as secondary to the headache disorder. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to service.