Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Direct service connection for hypertension, including as due to herbicide exposure, and service connection for an acquired psychological disorder (including depression), are both remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder diagnosed, including but not limited to depression, adjustment disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder and mood disorder. The Veteran's claim is recharacterized as seeking service connection for multiple psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective September 18, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability was granted. However, the claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 22, 2014, due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and tinnitus. The TBI claim was denied as the Veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen during service.,Service connection for PTSD and major depression were also denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including major depressive disorder with anxious features), cirrhosis of the liver, and pancreatitis are being remanded due to insufficient verification of stressor events and exposure records. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information or support for these claims.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of July 19, 2016 for the grant of service connection for Parkinson's disease (balance impairment) and its associated disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is not rated higher than 70 percent, and from February 14, 2018, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective October 4, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at other than the housebound rate was denied as he did not meet the criteria for this benefit during the specified period.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection, evaluation of his back condition, and SMC are being reviewed again.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the Appellant's request to withdraw her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical records and the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any identified psychiatric disability is related to active service.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the criteria for a schedular TDIU. The Board has referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) to the Director, VA Compensation Service.

The Board has found that the previous examinations and opinions were inadequate, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities and his other conditions. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and a need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is also being evaluated for its potential impact on his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress is rated at 100 percent disabling as of August 4, 2022. The VA has remanded the issues regarding chest scar residuals for further review.

The Veteran's major depression was granted a 100% disability rating from March 30, 2015 to May 14, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to new and material evidence, but the appeals are still pending as some issues remain unresolved.