Depression decisions — 2022

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression and anxiety, as additional development is necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified depressive disorder and major neurocognitive disorder have not been found to warrant a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from August 30, 2013 to September 29, 2017. Service connection for sleep apnea has been granted. The claims of increased rating and service connection for other conditions are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, a neck disability, and major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected back and neck disabilities. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance-induced mood disorder. The VA will need to obtain updated treatment records, clarify the nature of these conditions, and determine their relationship to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of several service-connected conditions, including recurrent leg and sleep disabilities. The Board also notes that the combined rating for all service-connected disabilities has not yet reached a level sufficient to warrant a TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, were not rated higher than 50% prior to January 23, 2017. From January 23, 2017, the rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion from the examiners who conducted the March and September 2021 VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability and for TDIU prior to January 15, 2019 due to new evidence. A more contemporaneous examination is needed to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for sinus disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and knee disabilities. The Board also directed further VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and foot conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Appellant's insanity at the time of his in-service offenses. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records and seek an opinion from a psychiatrist on whether the Appellant was insane.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of record regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A new VA examination is needed for an accurate assessment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a depressive disorder. The case needs further examination or opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and depressive disorder has been reopened, and the Board finds that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims are granted with an initial rating of 50 percent for IVDS, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, subject to the laws and regulations controlling the award of monetary benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for neurogenic bladder, major depressive disorder, and renal toxicity due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran needs to provide additional medical records and undergo VA examinations to determine the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and rating issues related to migraine headaches and persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is not rated higher than 70 percent. From June 1, 2014 to December 3, 2019, the Veteran's DDD with spondylosis of the lumbar spine was granted a 20 percent rating. The Veteran's meniscal and ACL tears status post-surgery with degenerative arthritis of the right knee were granted a 20 percent rating from June 14, 2019. The Veteran's trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip was granted a 20 percent rating starting from June 19, 2017.

The Board granted the reopening of claims for service connection for a right lower lip disability and a psychiatric disability, but remanded all issues for further development.