Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service. A new VA examination is needed to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip condition, or left hip condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions and their relation to service, as well as the 1151 claim. The VA will need to provide new medical opinions considering all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for HIV, legal blindness secondary to HIV, and an acquired mental disorder (including PTSD and depression) secondary to HIV due to additional development being required. The Veteran submitted medical literature suggesting he may have been HIV positive prior to separation from active service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, trauma-related anxiety, and depression. The diagnoses are related to a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology and severity.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU. The initial compensable rating for scars on the left shoulder and anterior trunk is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance prior to September 25, 2020, is also being remanded due to the inextricability with his mental health condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and polysubstance abuse disorder, is granted. The petition to reopen a claim for service-connected for an eye disability is also granted. Other issues are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete documentation and needs further evaluation by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) and VA medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and panic disorder, have been granted. The decision is based on new evidence that supports the claim of in-service military sexual trauma (MST) as a cause of PTSD.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2021 remand directives and has ordered another remand to obtain a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected CAD and depression disorder cause or aggravate his hypertension.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has granted a higher rating for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities after January 13, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back and neck conditions, major depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, and right foot hallux valgus with degenerative arthritis, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since September 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include an acquired psychiatric disorder, plantar fasciitis, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis of these conditions related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety has been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% evaluation due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back condition, an acquired psychiatric disability, and a skin disability have been granted. The claim for tinea is remanded due to the lack of relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression and schizoaffective disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran's claim. The decision concludes that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders likely had their onset during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, and sleep apnea due to in-service stressors. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination.