Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted as secondary to his service-connected compression fracture of the thoracic spine at T12 with degenerative arthritis. The disability rating for his compression fracture remains remanded.

The Veteran is found to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities, including anxiety and depression.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with alcohol disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further development. The issues include arthritis, hearing loss, cold weather injuries, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, GERD, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist sprain is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left wrist disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, adjustment disorder, depression, and an eating disorder), increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for depression has been remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, as well as a mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's use of hydrophilic cream did not cause an increased rate of damage to his outer garments, and thus he is denied a third clothing allowance for 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety was previously denied due to insufficient evidence of a verified in-service stressor. The Board has reopened the claim based on new evidence provided by the Veteran regarding his reported in-service stressors. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed because you withdrew them before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, which may be related to his service-connected major depression and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 23, 2019 due to lack of evidence showing she was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to his service. A new examination is needed to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in, or is otherwise related to his period of military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and conversion disorder, is granted as a residual of his traumatic brain injury. The right eye disability and headache disorder are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to the in-service TBI.

The Board has denied separate ratings for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder and mild alcohol use disorder, finding that service connection is warranted but not warranting additional ratings. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea remains pending as it involves a complex medical question regarding potential exposure to hazardous environmental factors during service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's ocular hypertension is granted as attributable to active service. The initial rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and the TDIU due to PTSD are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment history prior to April 19, 2019. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated VA Form 21-8940 and W-2 forms from the Veteran, as well as completed VA Form 21-4192s from any employers listed on the form. Additionally, the AOJ must request verification of the Veteran's personal income during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder with MDD and an anxiety disorder, as well as secondary service connection for insomnia. Service connection for a headache disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 30, 2010 for a 100% rating for PTSD with depression is denied. The Board found that the March 2015 decision was not appealed and thus no NOD was filed within one year of receipt.

The appeal for a higher rating for TBI-related conditions and the awards of service connection for migraine headaches and Bell's Palsy secondary to TBI are dismissed. The effective dates for these awards cannot be earlier than August 27, 2012 due to finality of prior decisions. A TDIU is denied as there were no pre-August 27, 2012 service-connected disabilities. An effective date prior to August 27, 2012 for DEA benefits is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of January 17, 2013. The Board has remanded the issues regarding his character of discharge and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and eye condition due to potential legal or factual complexities.