Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete review of the evidence and a lack of clarity in the opinion provided. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability status needs to be clarified, including whether he currently suffers from major depression.

The appeal for service connection of PTSD is dismissed. The claim for an increased rating of major depressive disorder with anxious distress is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for compliance with section 5103(a) notice requirements and an opportunity to submit evidence related to his claims.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, is granted effective from February 26, 2014.

The Board has decided that new evidence submitted by the Veteran warrants readjudication of his claims for anxiety and major depressive disorder. The case is now remanded to provide a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and anxiety has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with the case as he passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are granted as service-connected, but his cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar spine disability are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, as his education and work history were considered. The main reason for his unemployment was attributed to non-service-connected factors such as orthopedic pain, hypertension, incarceration, and lack of effort in looking for a job.

The Veteran was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depression, right and left knee replacements, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and syphilis. The Board granted a TDIU prior to June 28, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression), GERD, hemorrhoids, hypertension, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, and sciatic nerve disorders affecting both lower extremities are all service-connected.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to April 23, 2013 and 70 percent thereafter. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other conditions. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and a new VA medical opinion on the nature and etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings are being remanded due to procedural issues, need for additional examinations, and the need to address claims of entitlement to an effective date prior to August 15, 2013, for asthma on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder (subthreshold PTSD) and persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The decision also denied service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 30, 2015, to January 10, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether he was unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of March 6, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and alcoholism.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, a heart disability (coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease), an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder with psychosis), and right and left shoulder disabilities. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder secondary to a psychiatric disorder due to new evidence of in-service events.