Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including depressive and anxiety disorders, was not properly notified of a scheduled examination. Another remand is necessary to schedule a telephone or file review examination for her psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his mental health conditions during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions do not render it impossible for her to obtain or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective January 11, 2019. The claim for TDIU was granted on the same date.

The appeal regarding the initial evaluation for PTSD with MDD and the effective date of service connection is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU based on PTSD and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person to perform personal care functions of everyday living or to protect himself from hazards and dangerous incidents.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance were granted effective June 27, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities of depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss as of this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities, including depression and PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), is rated at a 70 percent disability rating. Effective August 8, 2016, the Veteran is granted TDIU and DEA eligibility.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 21, 2020, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol dependence is granted. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also granted and has an effective date of October 24, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period on review, outside of the convalescent period. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder. The decision finds that there is at least an even balance of evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD with MDD and mild neurocognitive disorder, residuals of a TBI, and other disabling effects of the service-connected burn scar, groin were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder with psychotic features, and denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing examination records. The issues include an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal condition (GERD), cervical spine disability, skin disability, sinusitis, rhinitis, headache disability, and sleep disorder.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with its October 2019 remand directives and has therefore remanded the case for further development, including verification of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and a VA examination to identify and determine the likely etiology of the claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a liver condition, and whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for hepatitis. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.