Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed them.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional records from SSA and VA VRE, scheduling a new examination for major depressive disorder and PTSD, and providing an opinion on the left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's seizure disorder and MDD and unspecified anxiety disorder as secondary to her service-connected seizure disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions are proximately due to her service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and head trauma residuals are being remanded due to the inability to verify stressors for PTSD, and the need for further examination regarding both conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for cardiovascular condition, hypertension, respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis and breathing problems), and acquired psychiatric condition (depression) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded because there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to make a decision.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, right hip, and left hip disabilities as they are not related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The effective date for increased rating of residuals of left fifth metatarsal fracture is also denied.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals for increased ratings in multiple conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, right rotator cuff tendinopathy, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, and post-operative ventral hernia. The Board has no further jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically unspecified depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the April 2014 VA examination opinion. The examiner based their conclusion on a lack of psychiatric complaints during service, which does not align with the Veteran's reported history and symptoms.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's right ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disorder claims, as well as his TDIU claim. The VA will obtain treatment records, schedule a VA examination to assess the severity of the right ankle disability, attempt to verify the Veteran's stressor related to Guantanamo Bay service, and provide an examination for his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate May 2013 VA examination and failure to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his stressors. The case is being returned for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. Additional development is needed to verify in-service stressors and determine if a current psychiatric condition is related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and alcohol use disorder as these conditions are found to have originated during active service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD with depression and cognitive residuals of TBI has been granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher, throughout the entire appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and persistent depressive disorder. The Veteran's reported in-service stressors are found to be credible and consistent with his service, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for burn scars of the left leg and groin is granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if additional disabling effects warrant a separate compensable rating, and for new examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD with major depressive disorder and mild neurocognitive disorder, as well as TBI residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with a previous remand directive regarding the psychiatric claim. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder, is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracic spine, right hip bursitis and osteoarthritis, left hip condition, hernia residuals, and MDD and other specified anxiety disorder are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to sleep apnea, and a rating of 70% is granted for the period beginning February 3, 2021.

The Veteran's appeals for Traumatic Brain Injury and TDIU were dismissed due to the Veteran requesting to withdraw his appeal.,The remaining issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability, low back disability, gastric disorder, neck disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified bipolar disorder and cannabis use disorder (also claimed as anxiety and depression) is granted. The issue of an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee residuals of Osgood Schlatter's disease is remanded.