Depression decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability related to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and that any diagnosed depression was not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's rationale and the need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to October 20, 2016 was denied. Service connection for Congestive Heart Failure and Glaucoma were also denied. The claim for reopening a previously denied lumbar disability claim was denied. TDIU was granted but rendered moot due to the increase in rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee tendonitis, depressive disorder, and COPD for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and knee conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeal on depression was dismissed as the benefit sought had already been granted. The Board has remanded her claims for myositis, neck disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral foot disability, and toenail avulsion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional development is needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating for her right knee osteoarthritis are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with MDD in April 2014 and needs a new examination to determine if his MDD is related to service.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but additional development is necessary before a decision on the merits can be made.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, which includes a finding of military sexual trauma. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, which he believes is related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board finds that the evidence does not support presumptive service connection due to exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune. However, the Veteran's private physician has indicated a possible association between his psychiatric disability and service. Therefore, the case is remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rhinitis, claimed as a respiratory disorder, is granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to incomplete examinations and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The remaining issues of service connection for right hip, headaches, bilateral knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety or depressive disorder), cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to a lack of current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. However, due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and his military service, the case is being remanded for further clarification.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) due to military sexual trauma has been dismissed as the claim was withdrawn from the Legacy appeals system and opted into the Appeals Modernization Act.