Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric conditions. The VA must obtain updated treatment records, attempt to locate missing personnel records, and provide the Veteran with an examination to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to the veteran's conditions, including heart disabilities, psychiatric disorders, diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies, and retinopathy. The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to his service-connected conditions or exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is denied as the evidence does not show that he requires regulation of activities beyond what is already contemplated in the current 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and examination regarding service connection for delusional disorder and persistent depressive disorder, as well as entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left elbow disability, right wrist disability, and psychiatric disability (including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) due to new evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent, effective from the date of his death.,Service connection for an anxiety disorder was denied as there was no separate diagnosis. The Board found that any anxiety symptoms were part of the service-connected major depressive disorder.,A sleep disorder claim is remanded due to lack of medical records and a need for a VA opinion.

The Board has found the VA examination inadequate and requires a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The RO must also verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been denied as the earliest date of claim is August 10, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the January 2020 decision, including not obtaining all relevant records from the Veteran's service period. The Veteran needs to provide release forms for any private medical records and obtain 'Buddy Statements' from fellow servicemen.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder is granted. The claim for a higher rating since August 22, 2019, remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, insomnia, alcohol use disorder, and stimulant use disorder. The case is being remanded to assign a rating and adjudicate the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's TBI and associated Major Depressive Disorder have been granted service connection, but the disability rating for TBI is still under review due to worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar retrolisthesis with lumbar radiculopathy (claimed as chronic low back pain).

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims due to a withdrawal request from the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to new and material evidence received within one year of a prior denial, and because there are discrepancies in the medical records regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions. The claim is being reviewed again with additional medical evaluation.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, a spine disability, right leg numbness, left leg numbness, and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with other issues being remanded. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and chronic depression do not render her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, as she was still employed until November 2016 when she closed her business. The Board denied the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence of unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a hernia surgery scar has been reopened and granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to military sexual trauma during service.