Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining authorization for private treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a depressive disorder. The VA will obtain the Veteran's service personnel records and unit history reports to confirm his participation in combat during Vietnam. A new VA examination is also required to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's National Guard service and the relationship between his back condition, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims will be further developed with additional medical records and a VA examination if necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mild neurocognitive disorder with depressive disorder, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of September 18, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, hepatitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Further examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors. The Veteran is requested to provide additional details about his alleged stressors and complete a VA Form 21-0781.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and unspecified Depressive Disorder, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is now granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are related to his military service. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's in-service experiences and his current mental health conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts made to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to his military service or dysfunctional family dynamics.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate documentation of notice for a VA examination, and further development is needed including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The issues include head injuries, psychiatric disorders, hearing loss, sleep apnea, spine problems, nerve damage in limbs, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and records review.

The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The examiner found that the current back disability is unrelated to his in-service injury.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability (depression) did not manifest during service and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome with major depressive-like episodes, is granted service connection based on being secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for major depressive disorder, bilateral hand problems, back disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy, memory disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability (chronic low back pain), chronic cervical strain, allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal disabilities, colon diverticulosis, and degenerative joint diseases of multiple joints. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent from June 19, 2009, but the initial claim for higher ratings prior to that date remains denied.