Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his left ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent from July 15, 2015 to December 26, 2020 and at 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for this condition.,An initial 50 percent rating has been granted for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder effective from December 27, 2020.

Service connection for prostate cancer is granted under the PACT Act of 2022.,Service connection for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder is granted. The Board found that these conditions are related to service, including in-service stressors.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to clarify the Veteran's diagnosis and its relationship to service, as there are conflicting diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,No new evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been granted a 70 percent rating effective from August 20, 2018. The claim for an earlier effective date of March 17, 2013 is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is now rated at 70 percent effective February 13, 2014.,Effective December 17, 2014, the Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.,For the period from December 17, 2014 to July 31, 2021, the Veteran's PTSD qualifies for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as a potential secondary service connection claim for depression related to renal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are at least as likely as not related to his service or to in-service stressors. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's conditions are related to his exposure at Camp Lejeune, but a definitive link is needed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including breathing disorder, back disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, heart disorder, painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, obesity, vision disorder, intestinal disorder, and sleep apnea. The Board also notes that no presumptive service connection is being considered for any of the conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders to service, personal stressors, or his service-connected tinnitus and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal includes a request for an increased rating for PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as the propriety of reducing his disability rating from 100 percent to 30 percent. Both issues are being remanded due to incomplete consideration in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from June 22, 2016 to May 15, 2020, or in excess of 70 percent from February 25, 2023 on.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and insomnia, was manifested by occupational and social impairment without more severe manifestations that more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied the claim for an increased rating.

Prior to November 7, 2020, an initial rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder was denied. From November 7, 2020 onwards, a 100 percent rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder is granted.,After November 7, 2020, the claim of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to that date was dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of notification for a VA psychiatric examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is still pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence after the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).