Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The VA is required to provide a new examination and obtain updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, as secondary to fibromyalgia. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder. The case needs further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and military personnel verification.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability, to include depression and anxiety, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The claims for headaches and TBI residuals are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations and a TDIU prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. The claims for low back, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection for a psychiatric disability is remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The decision is based on credible evidence of a personal assault during service and a medical nexus between current symptoms and the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance due to his ability to manage personal hygiene, financial affairs, and daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied for CAD in the period prior to January 9, 2018, and from January 9, 2018 to November 1, 2019. A 60 percent rating is granted for CAD beginning November 1, 2019. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent effective March 23, 2018. SMC based on housebound criteria and TDIU are also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is denied. The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's depressive disorder symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development to determine if any of the Veteran's abdominal surgeries resulted in an additional disability and whether VA was at fault. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to February 11, 2014 is being remanded as the AOJ has not yet referred it for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and low back disability have been reopened, but the Board has remanded both issues due to a lack of a VA examination addressing the etiology of his psychiatric disorder and whether his low back disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability had its onset in service. Service connection is granted for this condition.,Service connection is remanded for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's restoration of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Issues regarding increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee degenerative arthritis, and depression are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.