Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various upper extremity and skin disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective March 26, 2002.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of Parkinson's Disease and any psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his reported in-service stressors. The Veteran's statements alone were not sufficient to establish the occurrence of the claimed stressor.

The Veteran's cause of death, community acquired bacterial pneumonia with underlying dementia and respiratory failure, is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if his service-connected depression caused or aggravated his dementia.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing and the need to consider additional evidence. The Veteran's claim of an increased disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder is now pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his OSA to his active duty service or a service-connected disability. The issue of a 10% rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities was dismissed as the Veteran now has a compensable rating for Major Depressive Disorder. The TDIU claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is rated at 70 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The rating does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded this case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The VA examiner failed to consider the full history of the Veteran's mental health conditions and provide adequate rationales for their opinions.

The Veteran's headaches and depressive disorder have been granted initial ratings, but the claims for higher ratings are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequacy of previous VA examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are being evaluated again, with a focus on their onset during service or relation to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and cannabis use disorder, is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depression and anxiety. The AOJ is required to obtain VA and Vet Center treatment records for the relevant periods.

The Board has found that the Veteran's condition has worsened during the appeal period and requires an examination to assess his current severity. The matter is remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 50% disability rating, but the Board has granted an increased rating to 70% for this period prior to August 18, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and MDD, as well as alcohol use disorder secondary to these conditions, was granted. The decision is based on credible supporting evidence of the in-service personal assault stressor.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and therefore no service connection decisions were made for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied in April 2005. The Board granted service connection and assigned an effective date of May 31, 2005. However, the AOJ did not provide a VA examination to assess the severity of her symptoms during the period on appeal. This error requires remand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder associated with bilateral hearing loss, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.