Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has vacated a previous decision and is now remanding the case to ensure full compliance with contested claims procedures, specifically providing K.K. with copies of the Statement of the Case and the content of the substantive appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and whether his service-connected depressive disorder aggravated it. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's father's observations, his own testimony about weight gain during service, and medical literature.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression. The case is now remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions. The issue of earlier effective date for tinnitus is no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and MDD has been granted, but the claim is dismissed as moot due to the effective date being January 9, 2012.,Service connection for hypertension was also granted with a zero percent evaluation, which is now dismissed.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is related to his service, and he has been granted service connection for this condition.,His acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder) is found to be caused by his service-connected bladder cancer, allowing him secondary service connection.,His eczema is also found to be caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically his major depressive disorder, granting him secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted.,The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for psychiatric disability (depressive disorder), esophageal dysmotility, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address whether sleep apnea and major depressive disorder are secondary to service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and depression have been remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The Board will address these issues again, with a focus on obtaining additional medical records and providing an opinion regarding the etiology of the conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered after obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder and bronchial asthma, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, rating of right wrist disability, and TDIU due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are found to be due to his military service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the December 2013 rating decision, which granted service connection for GAD with MDD and assigned a 50 percent initial rating, was not final due to new and material evidence received within one year of the decision. The matter is being remanded to address whether an effective date prior to February 5, 2017, for the award of TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since April 10, 2014. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 70%, effective from the date of the June 2021 decision.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is dismissed.,A rating of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is granted, effective from the date of the Veteran's hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety and depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. His TDIU claim prior to June 8, 2016, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and increased disability ratings for his back condition and sciatic nerve impairment due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and chronic depression has been denied by the Board. The evidence shows that her symptoms include suicidal ideations, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, continuous depression affecting her ability to function effectively, increased anger and irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, an impairment of short- and long-term memory, disturbance of motivation and mood, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. However, these symptoms are characterized as mildly to moderately severe with similar impacts on her daily social and occupational functioning.