Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including hypertension, knee conditions, hearing loss, mental health disorders, COPD and/or asthma, and sleep apnea. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records, verifying stressors, confirming exposure to asbestos, scheduling examinations for each condition, and determining the etiology of any diagnosed respiratory disorder and sleep disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional medical records and treatment information, including SSA records and VA/privately obtained mental health and heart disability records.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation for tinnitus and service connection for major depressive disorder, right lower extremity sciatica, and effective date prior to February 8, 2017 were denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 8, 2017 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity sciatica was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at a 70 percent rating for the entire period on appeal, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has not caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so a higher rating than 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 20, 2015 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for earlier TDIU or DEA effective dates as his employment ended prior to November 20, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the Veteran's mental health conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not experience an in-service event or injury related to his current conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MST-related issues, due to insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his DDD involving the lumbosacral spine and related radiculopathy conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since December 1, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder with anxious distress) and insomnia disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not due to pain and physical limitations caused by service-connected disabilities. Service connection for a disability manifested by loss of appetite was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, right knee degenerative arthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 2014. Effective from March 30, 2016 (the date of claim for the underlying grant of service connection for major depressive disorder), he is granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and PTSD), headaches, and tinnitus. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active-duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since April 4, 2008 and a TDIU is granted from November 26, 2008.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder is granted. The initial rating for low back disability prior to June 7, 2019 is granted at 20 percent. A higher than 40 percent rating for the low back disability since June 7, 2019 is denied. Initial ratings of 10 percent are granted for right sciatica and scar formation in the right cranium prior to June 6, 2019. The issue of service connection for joint pain is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for erectile dysfunction and radiation contamination (also claimed as radiation exposure). The issues of service connection for psychiatric disability and alcoholism secondary to psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for clarification of the Veteran's diagnosis. The appellant contends that the Veteran had PTSD related to his service in World War II, but no adequate opinion was provided regarding this claim.