Depression decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, panic disorder, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress renders him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment since September 20, 2014. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection was granted or denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate evidence and incomplete verification of the Veteran's in-service stressor. The claim will be returned for further development, including a new VA examination and an attempt to corroborate the claimed stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not sufficient to warrant special monthly compensation based on housebound status or the need for aid and attendance. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's son, A.G., is recognized as a dependent child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18, based on his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The VA is directed to obtain additional records and conduct a VA examination to determine if there is at least as likely as not a nexus between his acquired psychiatric disorder and military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the improper docketing of the Appeals Modernization Review appeals system.

The Veteran's IBS is granted service connection, while his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) remains under review and remanded.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are not found to cause the need for aid and attendance, leading to a remand for further clarification.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on the evidence of record. The denial was due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations, while the grant was based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and depressive disorder have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since May 27, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 70 percent from May 17, 2018, to June 10, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is partially granted based on his service-connected major depressive disorder, but the award of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his left ankle disability has been rendered moot. The effective date for the housebound rating remains pending.

The Board has granted new and material evidence to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for service connection for a back disability and headaches have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted a 50 percent rating from September 22, 2016 to May 12, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 1, 2009 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there was insufficient evidence to consider an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The VA needs to obtain these records before proceeding with the appeal.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and its relation to service-connected conditions. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, which includes an undiagnosed mental health disability.