Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, has been granted.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The claims for service connection for headaches, back disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities, and anxiety disorder/depression have been reopened.,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been reopened.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's participation in the VA Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation training program may have caused an adjustment disorder, but it is unclear if this is a new condition or a recharacterization of existing conditions. The case is being remanded for further examination to clarify these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and right upper extremity cervical radulopathy, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.

The Board previously denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the Court ordered a remand due to incomplete personnel records and unverified stressor. The case is now being sent back for further development including obtaining missing military personnel files and requesting an addendum opinion on the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran's mental health history must be fully reviewed and all diagnosed conditions must be considered in determining service connection.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and chest pain due to inadequate examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance or bedridden, thus denying entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors/events during service aboard the USS Gunston Hall, which is related to his psychiatric disorders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hepatitis C, residuals of venereal disease (to include herpes), right wrist condition, bilateral hip conditions, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for depression, diabetes mellitus type II, glaucoma, and sleep apnea. Service connection was also remanded for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder, finding that it is a symptom of his already service-connected Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran is granted a 60 percent rating for heart disease, effective July 25, 2016. He also receives a schedular TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnosed mental health disorders, specifically major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted as service-connected, with the claim for acquired psychological disorder to include persistent depressive disorder being remanded.,Secondary service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected depressive disorder, and service connection for hydrocephalus residuals as secondary to prostate cancer are pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is related to his active duty service. The claim for PTSD secondary to military personal trauma is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, have resulted in unemployability since March 31, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder was increased from 30 to 50 percent effective May 17, 2018. The appellant is eligible for additional attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the July 2020 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD. The VA examiner is requested to provide an updated opinion on whether the Veteran experienced a personal assault trauma stressor in-service and if so, whether the PTSD is related to such in-service trauma.