Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's dental disabilities and dyshidrotic eczema have been granted service connection. The right shoulder disability, right lower extremity disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating. The appeal for TDIU due to service-connected disability is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and major depressive disorder have been granted, with a 70% rating for the latter. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete Statement of the Case for the service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided the case is remanded due to conflicting findings in a VA examination report and medical opinions, requiring further clarification on whether there are any currently diagnosed psychiatric symptoms that are related to service or TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection for TBI and psychiatric disabilities, specifically Persistent Depressive Disorder. Further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD with depressive disorder may be considered to have been incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his major depressive disorder and knee conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 20, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU claim effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his service, specifically in relation to witnessed motor vehicle accidents during his time on land in the Navy.

The appeals for service connection for bilateral hip, bilateral shoulder, eczema, athlete's foot, major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder are dismissed. Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder on a secondary basis.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 12, 2013. The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder did not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment during the relevant period.

The appeals seeking to reopen service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea on the basis of new and material evidence have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received, allowing the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder. The issue is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression), osteoarthritis of the right ankle, osteoarthritis of the left ankle, and lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease are remanded. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and unspecified depressive disorder are dismissed as moot due to the Board granting these issues in a June 2023 decision under the AMA appeal system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for depression/anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, pes planus (right and left feet), and a vision condition due to additional development being required. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU, but his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to service and granted.,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sinusitis, eye disability, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), left shoulder disability, low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability.