Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders of unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are found to be proximately due to his service-connected PTSD and asbestosis, and the claim is granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bilateral metatarsalgia, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability is reopened, but the case is remanded to verify the in-service stressor event and obtain a VA opinion regarding the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current ankle disability or recurrent symptoms of such, thus denying the claim. For MDD, the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there were no suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, or other severe symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by service. The RO must obtain the Veteran's complete military personnel records and pay stubs for his Air Force Reserves service to determine if he was on Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA). A VA psychiatric examination must be scheduled to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development, and they will be reviewed again by the VA Regional Office.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the award of a combined 100 percent evaluation. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and depressive disorder with a major depressive episode and anxious distress due to chronic pain disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder NOS, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation due to outdated evidence and potential interplay with other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's original rating of 100 percent for her mental health disability, finding that there was no sustained improvement in her condition and thus the reduction from 100 to 70 percent was improper.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as it was granted back to the initial date of claim in a rating decision dated August 23, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions first manifested during active service. The Board also found that the Veteran's OSA was caused by and permanently aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for updated treatment records and an examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because she has a 100% disability rating for her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his in-service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records, including treatment from non-VA providers. The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as anxiety and depression. The case is remanded to obtain a new examination and medical opinion addressing both direct and secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from November 18, 2015 through January 24, 2017 due to his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder for the one-year appeal period prior to his non-initial rating claim remains at issue. The Board finds that an increased rating does not constitute a full grant of benefits sought on appeal and thus, this matter must be remanded.