Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased evaluation for service-connected depressive disorder is remanded due to the submission of new evidence within one year after the November 2011 rating decision. The claim remains pending as no subsequent rating decision addressed this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for further development of stressor claims. The Veteran's service in Panama is considered, but a definitive opinion on PTSD etiology is needed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include right shoulder, right ankle, left ankle, neck, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a need for further development including obtaining an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a link between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service, particularly given his reported incidents of sexual harassment and threats.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from May 8, 2009 to March 20, 2013 and from May 1, 2014 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder caused or aggravated his obesity, and subsequently led to his fatal myocardial infarction and/or ischemic heart disease. The case is being returned for further consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination, and the Veteran is required to provide additional information about his stressors and undergo a new psychiatric evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to January 16, 2018, for the award of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a 30 percent rating for asthma was denied. The Board found that there was no factually ascertainable worsening in the severity of his asthma during the one-year period prior to January 16, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders will be evaluated again by a medical professional.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for PTSD as per DSM-V requirements. The claim was also denied due to lack of evidence linking current symptoms to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection for various conditions has been dismissed due to withdrawal. The issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of left ankle injury, left heel spur as secondary to the service-connected disability of residuals of left ankle injury or GERD, and psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder) have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that his disorders are not related to his active service and do not have their onset during or are otherwise directly related to service. The Board also found no evidence of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for tuberculosis of the testes is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or secondary to his left varicocele.,Service connection is granted for depression, which is found to be secondary to his service-connected left varicocele.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD is granted. The case is remanded as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to April 1, 2009 is being remanded due to the grant of benefits in November 2021 and the need for a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has dismissed the claims for restoration of the seborrheic dermatitis evaluation and service connection for an undiagnosed condition, as well as the reopening of a claim for a sleep disorder due to lack of new and material evidence. The decision is final.