Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's abdominal disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded for further development to determine if they were caused by VA treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's perianal abscess is rated at 30 percent effective October 19, 2017 and at 60 percent effective November 2018. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive and anxiety disorders is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current mental health condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information to verify in-service stressors and the need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are being examined to determine their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder or MDD is granted an increased rating of 50 percent, but no higher.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, MDD, depression, anxiety, memory problems, TBI residuals, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorder, sinus condition, CFS, loss of smell, morning stiffness and weakness, bilateral eye condition, OSA, and right shoulder disability. The AOJ is instructed to continue developing the claims by obtaining additional VA and private treatment records.

The Board has expanded the original issue of service connection for PTSD and dysthymia to include all acquired psychiatric disabilities. The claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of December 21, 2009. The disability manifested prior to this filing.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand during service, granted under the PACT Act.,There is no current evidence of a viral infection or bump on the left hip. The claim for these conditions is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder) is granted.,The Veteran's lower jaw or dental disability is not service connected due to lack of evidence supporting trauma that resulted in bone loss.,The Veteran's current dental condition, including periodontal disease, is not considered a compensable disability for which he can receive compensation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding reasonable doubt in favor of his claim and concluding that it was incurred during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, anxiety, depression, and personality disorder, effective November 8, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened, but service connection is granted only for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.,Service connection has also been granted for the right ankle condition. However, service connection remains pending for the low back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not more closely approximate those required for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a sleep disorder caused by psychiatric disabilities and obstructive sleep apnea due to missing scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is advised to provide lay statements from himself and others who have first-hand knowledge of his in-service and post-service sleeping problems.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress have been granted. The initial rating for the major depressive disorder has been increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is proximately due to or the result of her service-connected status post total abdominal hysterectomy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and alcoholism as there was no credible evidence to support the occurrence of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection, except for a grant of entitlement to a separate compensable evaluation for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.