Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has also determined that remand is necessary for further development regarding his lupus erythematosus, skin conditions, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include bilateral eye disability, depression, hypertension, IBS, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's in-service symptoms and their relation to his current conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and concluding that any current psychiatric disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, thus reopening it. However, the issue of entitlement to service connection remains remanded due to outstanding records from VA treatment facilities and private providers.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder and adjustment disorder are rated at 70 percent since September 15, 2011. Effective August 1, 2012, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her service-connected depression and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and TBI is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a rating in excess of this amount. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, adjustment disorder with depression, and cognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury. Additionally, he needs a VA TERA examination to determine if his allergic conjunctivitis is related to service, specifically considering his presumed toxic exposure in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding his depression, respiratory disorder, and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, depression, and sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 31, 2015, which is why the TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder is granted prior to October 15, 2020. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 20, 2015, is also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD. The decision is based on a finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Board has decided that service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The case of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, is remanded due to the need for further examination and evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and their impact on his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, but no higher. The evidence supports the finding of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding periods of active duty, verification of in-service personal assault for PTSD claims, and corroboration of such incidents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there is no probative and competent medical evidence to indicate a link between his current depression and service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and mental health condition has been dismissed as her claim was granted in a prior rating decision, which covered all of her psychiatric symptoms.