Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, MDD, and Polysubstance Dependence have been granted. The rating assigned is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder preexisted service. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining an addendum opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression and hypertension, finding no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder or symptoms during or proximate to his claim.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including chronic gout, hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, a sleep disorder with insomnia, tinnitus, and a back disability. The reasons include the need to verify the appellant's claimed service, particularly whether he served in line of duty during any periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case, which is considered part of the legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol use disorder, are granted. Bilateral hearing loss and a back disability remain pending as they were remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorder as well as pain disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected somatic symptom disorder is granted at a 100% rating from September 4, 2013 to December 29, 2019. Effective September 4, 2013, the Veteran also receives SMC for housebound status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities aggravated his obesity, which may have caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation prior to February 13, 2017.

The Veteran's depression is rated at 100 percent, and service connection for low back pain, sleep apnea, migraines are granted. The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of evidence supporting this diagnosis. The case is being remanded to address his claim for service connection for a sleep related disorder secondary to a mental health disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The examiner is requested to provide a thorough opinion addressing the onset of each condition during active service or its relation to it, as well as whether any condition is secondary to or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's depression NOS is rated at 30 percent from July 15, 2010 to August 4, 2022. The rating was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on issues of service connection for colorectal polyps, internal hemorrhoids, left shoulder, and cancer polyps.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted an initial 70 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's chronic thoracolumbar strain remains remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease, cervical spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (which includes PTSD and depression) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an examination and updated treatment records, as well as the need for further analysis on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to his service.