Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), is reopened. The Board has also remanded the issues of secondary service connection for PTSD due to tinnitus and TDIU.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active service. The Veteran seeks service connection for anxiety and depression, which are diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hip and foot disabilities, psychiatric conditions, sleep disorders, hearing loss, vertigo, vision loss, hyperlipidemia, GERD, skin rashes, hand circulatory condition, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's MDD has been granted a 70 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal, and his cystitis glandularis has been granted a 40 percent disability rating. Other issues have either not been resolved or are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including intermittent explosive disorder, impulse control disorder, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The Veteran's claims are being sent back for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hand and foot frostbite residuals, as well as his PTSD with depression, are all found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to his service, including any early manifestations of schizophrenia during service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are found to be related to his active service. The Board granted the claim based on a finding that reasonable doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require a higher level of aid and attendance, necessitating personal health-care services provided on a daily basis by a person who is licensed to provide such services. The Board has granted the increased SMC (r)(2) based on this need.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected Persistent Depressive Disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating, as the Veteran does not display total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, with the Board finding that his anxiety disorder significantly impacts his ability to work.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depression is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective March 28, 2018. The Veteran's tension headaches are denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information from prison records, and requests that all relevant medical records be obtained.

The Board has dismissed the claim for an increased rating for a back condition due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for depressive disorder, PTSD, and a headache condition are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to September 23, 2014 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with MDD, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood was denied. The appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD with MDD, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's claim was not received within one year of her separation from active duty and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), finding that the current diagnoses are related to a verified in-service psychological stressor.

The Veteran's depression, diagnosed as an acquired psychiatric condition, had its onset in service and is granted service connection.

The Board has remanded three issues: increased ratings for the right ankle, synovial cyst of the left knee, and depressive disorder prior to September 15, 2020. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with these other claims.