Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevented him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful course of employment since August 14, 2009. The Board granted TDIU with an effective date of August 14, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU was granted in the June 2020 decision, making him eligible to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to entitlement to service connection for persistent depressive disorder due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

Your appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with this matter.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma is granted. The Board also grants service connection for anxiety, bone pain, depression, erectile dysfunction, joint pain, keloid scars, left upper and lower extremity conditions, and right upper and lower extremity conditions as secondary to multiple myeloma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance and automobile adaptive equipment, or automobile adaptive equipment only. The issues are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to use his hands, feet, and extremities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the reduction of his rating for major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as GAD) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically his current diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's pre-existing PTSD and its relationship to his military service. The VA is instructed to obtain records from Fitzsimmons Army Hospital for the period relevant to the Veteran's claim, seek an opinion on whether his PTSD was aggravated by service, and clarify the connection between his current PTSD and his military experience.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence and a need to readjudicate his case based on all available records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and service connection for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for vitiligo and service connection for a left knee disorder are dismissed. Service connection for depression and anxiety is granted, with an initial 20 percent rating for lumbar disc disease from May 2, 2016 to January 23, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a brain disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the remand instructions were not substantially complied with, and thus the case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD with anxiety, is not related to service due to lack of verified in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the issues of initial rating for mixed anxiety depressive disorder and TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for right knee and hip disabilities, as well as a higher rating for major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals from a bilateral foot surgery, and left leg nerve damage are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 10, 2004, to November 24, 2020, was denied as his service-connected depressive disorder alone did not meet the criteria for an extraschedular TDIU under VA regulations.