Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder and depression, has been granted a rating of 70 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records. The issue of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis will also be referred to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression associated with adenocarcinoma of prostate is dismissed as the issue has been resolved in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and Depression. The Veteran's reported stressors are consistent with his service, and he was diagnosed with PTSD by a VA psychiatrist and a private psychologist.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted. His obstructive sleep apnea is also granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric conditions. Right knee degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, and right knee meniscal tear are all granted. Left knee degenerative arthritis and left knee strain are granted. Low back disabilities are granted. The Veteran's lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. His bilateral plantar fasciitis rating from December 3, 2019, is increased to 50%.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and alcohol abuse, effective from April 20, 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran not appearing for a VA examination and failure to provide information about medical providers. The case will be returned for further development, including scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's mental health disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, was found to have been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to January 31, 2019. The VA has granted a 70 percent evaluation for this period.

The claim for service connection for PTSD and depression/dysthymic disorder is reopened, but further development is needed as the July 2017 VA examination did not address all diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression, are remanded due to the lack of current evidence of a diagnosed condition. The Board requests further development to obtain relevant in-service records and non-VA treatment records from specific counties.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, which includes insomnia disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, was denied. The rating prior to September 17, 2016, is denied.,From September 17, 2016, the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected psychiatric disability was also denied.

Service connection is granted for eczema, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder), erectile dysfunction as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle, medial epicondylitis of the right elbow, rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder, and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee.,The claims for service connection for residuals of Lyme's disease or related infectious disease and a TBI or other impairment of the brain as a result of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression, finding no evidence of an in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety, are found to be related to her service. After considering all the evidence, the Board has determined that these conditions should be considered as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted based on his service-connected PTSD. The appellant is eligible for attorney fees from past-due benefits resulting from this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety condition, is granted. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to the lack of an adequate opinion regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected PTSD, as well as for evaluations of his left and right hip disorders and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for Parkinson's disease, pulmonary embolism, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to an error in obtaining relevant VA treatment records from 2011 to 2018. A new medical opinion is also needed regarding whether these conditions are linked to the Veteran's in-service chemical exposures.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for right hand thumb tenosynovitis and major depressive disorder have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a March 2022 signed statement.