Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions and awarded effective dates of July 31, 2014. The decision is based on newly associated STRs that were not previously considered.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed.,New evidence received since the October 2013 rating decision has reopened claims for service connection, but not all of these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his disability is at least in equipoise with this conclusion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ascites, depression associated with gynecomastia, and gynecomastia under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to their potential impact on the outcome of the liver disease claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression and low back disability, as well as the TDIU claim due to inadequate medical opinions addressing aggravation. The Veteran's disabilities are being evaluated again with a focus on whether they have been aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.,His initial rating for MDD remains denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating based on the severity of his symptoms.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and right testicle injury were both denied. The evidence did not support these claims.,The Veteran's appeal was also remanded for further consideration regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical injury, and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has ordered a VA examination to address the etiology of his psychiatric disorder. The issues of right shoulder, left shoulder, right arm, left arm, right hip, and left hip degenerative arthritis are also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder in early remission, is rated at a 70 percent disability level beginning January 22, 2016. The claim for TDIU has been withdrawn.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in previous decisions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The matter is now being reviewed on a direct basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder not otherwise specified and traumatic arthritis of the left wrist, have rendered him unemployable for periods on appeal. The Board has granted a TDIU from June 17, 2008 to December 2, 2012 and from February 1, 2014 to February 26, 2017. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate for these periods.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and personnel records, as well as his VA treatment records from Las Vegas. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

Prior to March 22, 2018, the Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent and denied a higher rating.,From March 22, 2018, the Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 70 percent and also denied a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, as well as her TDIU prior to December 21, 2013. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete evidence and unclear reasons provided by the Board.

Your claims of PTSD, anxiety, and depression have been dismissed as the Board lacks jurisdiction due to your opting into the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA) review system.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The TDIU claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the impact of service-connected foot and ankle disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since March 22, 2016. The Board found that his symptoms prior to this date did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, inguinal hernia, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for Major Depression (previously rated as Generalized Anxiety Disorder) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding treatment records not currently associated with the claims file, which may be pertinent to the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, these records include chiropractic and acupuncture treatments as well as ophthalmology surgical treatment.