Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for tinnitus and an increased evaluation for unspecified depressive disorder prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and experiences. The claim for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of malaria. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen his claims for headaches, PTSD (claimed as depression and anxiety), stomach disorder (GERD), and respiratory disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a neck disorder, and a back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and his service, including a self-inflicted death incident in 2002. A new examination is needed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. A grant of TDIU is granted effective June 10, 2015.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, should be remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding whether his weight gain and obesity are caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hepatitis C, liver damage, B-cell lymphoma cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of the record, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's reported stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving the highest available disability rating (100%) for his service-connected persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has also remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are related to service.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent from February 11, 2019. He also received a grant for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence established a link between his current diagnosis of major depressive disorder and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded for further examination and consideration, as the current ratings do not reflect the severity of his condition over the course of the appeal. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating issue.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and MDD was reopened due to new evidence of a verified in-service stressor. Service connection for both conditions is now granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of right shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), and respiratory condition are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents (PACT Act, Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune) for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent and to a disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent from February 1, 2019, for service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded several other issues including service connection claims for skin cancer and residuals, sleep apnea, vision disability, acid reflux, shin splints, right upper extremity ulnar nerve neuropathy, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis (now diagnosed as left shoulder strain), TDIU, and SMC.