Depression decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status and/or aid and attendance due to issues with obtaining a medical opinion. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include major depressive disorder with anxiety, personality disorders, substance addiction disorders, cocaine use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety, are related to his military service. The examiner is asked to provide a comprehensive opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or related to his period of service and are not caused by any service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and a higher disability rating for post-operative varicose veins has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right foot disability due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all available service personnel and treatment records, especially from the Reserve period of service. They are also directed to schedule VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's right foot disability and his acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for substance abuse disorders and acquired psychiatric disorders, finding that the Veteran's conditions were due to willful misconduct during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for new and material evidence regarding his psychiatric disorder, as well as for VA examinations to assess his bilateral knee disabilities, sciatic nerve disabilities, and low back disability.,VA has also been instructed to schedule the Veteran for an examination to confirm any current ankle disabilities and provide opinions on their etiology.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, primarily manifested by PTSD and depression, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the period from February 20, 2018, to June 3, 2021. The symptoms were considered mild and controlled with medication.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of back condition, major depressive disorder, and PTSD need further development due to lack of VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was granted, but his claim for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has PTSD due to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for mesothelioma, head injury including scars, and depression due to potential outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, depression/anxiety (claimed as PTSD), lower back condition, headaches/migraines, and sleep apnea. The reasons for remanding these cases include needing a new VA examination due to the passage of time since the last examination, verifying stressor events in service, and considering whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depression due to a lack of VA examinations, and to determine if the Veteran was insane at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge under other than honorable conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted at service entrance and is not presumed to have been aggravated during service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of aggravation, thus denying service connection for this condition.,Service connection for the left knee disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion addressing direct service connection based on the conceded in-service injury.,The Veteran's skin condition (likely Pseudofolliculitis Barbae and hyperpigmented scars) was not related to active service, as there were no in-service or post-service diagnoses of this condition. The remand is for an opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset in service.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depressive disorder) is remanded due to the need for an opinion addressing direct service connection based on the Veteran's reports of in-service left knee injury and/or incident involving a gas chamber.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, are related to her service or any of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for various conditions, including COPD, Graves' disease, stomach problems, chronic pain syndrome, coronary atherosclerosis with stent, hypertension, reflux, and psychiatric disabilities have been granted. The issues of service connection for otitis externa, otitis media, cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as the diagnosed alcohol use disorder and depressive disorder are not related to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, erectile dysfunction, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing potential in-service causation or aggravation of these conditions.,Service connection is denied as the acquired psychiatric disorder (alcohol use disorder and alcohol induced depressive disorder) is not related to service.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder, chronic sinusitis, and asthma have been granted service connection. The left knee disorder remains in dispute as the appeal is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia (also claimed as depression), but remanded both the original claim and the request for a higher evaluation due to the need for additional development.