Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression should be remanded due to the need to verify his Vietnam service, address bipolar disorder, and obtain a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood. A disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted effective November 24, 2015.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hypertension in the record.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (Insomnia) is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for genitourinary disorder, to include BPH, is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for flat feet is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip disabilities, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, depression and anxiety is granted. For the period since September 19, 2022, a disability rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity varicose veins is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not causally related to his military service and that there was no credible evidence corroborating his claimed in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and whether there is a link between his symptoms and in-service stressors. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including anxiety and depression, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, vertigo, sleeping disorder (including sleep apnea), and Meniere's syndrome. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain records from University of Western States chiropractic school in Portland, Oregon.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression, memory loss, vascular-related cognitive decline, or cerebral microvascular disease is at least as likely as not related to service and granted his claim for service connection based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent, and he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, there is no evidence that any single service-connected condition prevents him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. Additional development is needed to obtain relevant records and provide an adequate opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. The Board also remanded several other claims, including those for an acquired psychiatric disorder and various musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is granted, and the effective date of service connection for PTSD is set at August 13, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on this need. The issue of SMC based on housebound status is moot due to the grant of SMC for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with Alzheimer's dementia prior to February 19, 2021 has been found sufficient to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as an unspecified depressive and anxiety disorders with an alcohol use disorder, is rated at 50 percent since October 19, 2017. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD but granted TDIU and special monthly compensation based on housebound status due to PTSD. The issue of service connection for headaches secondary to PTSD was remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for left shoulder disability with degenerative arthritis is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for MDD with generalized anxiety disorder is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective May 25, 2016. The symptoms and impairment caused by the condition have more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder, is granted. The appeal regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.