Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's back, psychiatric disabilities, hip, shoulder, knee, and other conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to hearing loss, tinnitus, skin conditions, diabetes mellitus type 2, right eye blindness, hypertension, cancer of the jaw, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The issues are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for prostate condition, cold weather injuries of the upper and lower extremities, arthritis, and depression as there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD with moderate, recurrent major depressive disorder; mild alcohol use disorder; and mild cannabis use disorder is rated at 70 percent. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent. The migraine condition is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and special monthly compensation were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted with an effective date of November 1, 2019. The Board found the Veteran was unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities as of this date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate VA examination for assessing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and/or insomnia. The issue is now remanded for further readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for Parkinson's disease, Type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been readjudicated due to new and relevant evidence received.,Service connection has been granted for Parkinson's disease, Type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), and an acquired psychiatric disorder as due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and MDD is granted, but the effective date prior to October 25, 2017, for his bilateral hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his PTSD and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with insomnia has been rated at 70 percent since May 25, 2022, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and potential stressor development. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded for further development of her treatment records from Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, formerly Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, diagnosed as a result of military sexual trauma during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, need further examination and evaluation. The remanded issues are related to determining if these conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder associated with diabetes mellitus, type II is rated at 50 percent from December 18, 2008. From May 5, 2009, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, muscle pain, and joint pain have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a mood disorder, anxiety, and depression), migraine headaches with vertebrobasilar features, and hypertrophic degenerative disease of the back have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cognitive disorder and vertigo have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE) have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for persistent depressive disorder is denied. The claim for total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for a retrospective opinion on the severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder throughout the appeal period.