Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and its relationship with passive-dependent personality disorder, as well as secondary service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran needs a new VA psychiatric examination to provide these necessary opinions.

The Veteran's claims for IHD/CAD, hypertension, and prostate cancer have been granted. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and persistent depressive disorder) and a respiratory disability (shortness of breath) are being remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU based on service-connected migraine headaches is granted, and he is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for depression, PTSD, and major depressive disorder with psychotic features was granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed. Service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to service-connected right ankle disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (mood disorder, depressive disorder) as secondary to service-connected right ankle disability are both granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic pain syndrome is related to his service-connected disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder (claimed as PTSD), depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings, has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board found that there is insufficient competent medical evidence to make a fully informed decision on the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his chronic cervical strain and unspecified depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since March 20, 2014.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus condition and breathing condition), chronic sinusitis (claimed as sinus condition and breathing condition), and depressive disorder with depressive features are all granted service connection due to exposure to fine particulate matter during deployment in Southwest Asia.,The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied finality, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for several issues, and the Board has remanded three new issues: entitlement to increased ratings for gouty arthritis and right knee disability, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or aggravated her sleep apnea.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, to include anxiety and depression, are at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected neurogenic bladder condition. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, erectile dysfunction, cervical condition, and low back condition are granted. The case is remanded to obtain VA examinations for the cervical and low back conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the addition of new VA treatment records.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal of the issues related to left shoulder disability, irritable bowel syndrome, depression with drug abuse, cervical spine disability, and TDIU. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal request.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depressive disorder is granted. A rating higher than 10 percent for GERD and hiatal hernia from June 24, 2014 to February 17, 2019 is denied. An extension of the temporary total evaluation beyond the period from February 18, 2019 to April 30, 2019 for surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence for a hiatal hernia disorder is denied. A rating higher than 10 percent for GERD and hiatal hernia from May 1, 2019 to the present is denied.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to attempt to verify his service in Southwest Asia and obtain any missing personnel and medical records. The Board will then adjudicate the reopened claims based on the evidence received.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 17, 2014. The Board denied his claim for TDIU as the evidence does not show he was incapable of obtaining and maintaining gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities alone.