Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep apnea due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

Your claim for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for the 70 percent rating of your depressive disorder from February 27, 2013 is dismissed.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that no valid claim was filed prior to October 20, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relation to service. The issue will be reconsidered with a new medical examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo a VA examination to determine if he has Parkinson's disease and whether his diagnosed neurobehavioral effects are related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The appeal will be reconsidered after this examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. Service connection for tinnitus remains at the maximum schedular rating of 10%. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's claim will be further examined for a determination on service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted an initial 70% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's asthma, PTSD with depressive disorder and opioid use disorder, and TBI ratings are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis and depression was granted. He is also granted service connection for depressive disorder secondary to his bilateral knee disability.,Service connection for OSA was not established as the evidence did not show a relationship between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety and depression, respiratory disorder, and heart disability were denied as the evidence did not meet the regulatory requirements to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his depressive disorder and for consideration of entitlement to a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's service in Italy, where she claims she was sexually assaulted. The AOJ needs to obtain her National Guard service records to determine if she served at Camp Darby in Pisa, Italy.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations, outstanding treatment records, and completion of a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's initial rating for psychiatric disability was denied prior to January 4, 2023. Effective January 4, 2023, the Veteran is granted a higher rating of 70 percent for his psychiatric disability and TDIU is granted effective that date.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine condition is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating criteria. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 18, 2022.

Your previously granted service connection for vascular neurocognitive disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress has encompassed all your claimed psychiatric conditions, thus dismissing the need to appeal further.