Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations remain on appeal and James Fausone is still his representative. The Board finds that additional development is required as to the Veteran's claims of entitlement to SMC on the basis of aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection, but her residuals of tubal ligation are denied as there was no separate disability resulting from the in-service procedure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran is required to provide a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc degeneration of the lumbosacral spine is remanded, and his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and unspecified depression were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20% for bilateral hearing loss or a rating in excess of 70% for unspecified depression.

The Veteran's mental health disability, including PTSD and depression, is now rated at 70 percent since April 1, 2021. The claim was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder and major depressive disorder are rated at a 70 percent disability rating. The issue of service connection for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the August 2021 remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to clarify diagnoses and assess etiologies of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including personality disorder, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (subclinical PTSD symptomatology), other specified depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and lack of an opinion regarding secondary service connection. The Veteran's claim for service connection for her acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder and panic disorder, is now pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and patellofemoral syndrome, has been granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), has also been granted.,Service connection for the right knee disability is established based on direct evidence of a current condition, continuity of symptoms since service, and in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information regarding her period of active duty and reserve service. The claims are also remanded for additional medical opinions on the etiology of diagnosed psychiatric disorders, gynecological disabilities, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a psychiatric disorder (recharacterized as Major Depressive Disorder), coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding her in-service sexual trauma stressor event.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA clinician to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, resulting in a denial of the TDIU claim.

The Board has ordered additional development due to new VA medical records being added to the claims file. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection will be reconsidered after this.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in a 70% rating, effective from the entire initial rating period on appeal. Effective January 24, 2015, he was granted TDIU.