Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left side numbness, epilepsy, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain relevant medical opinions and to verify in-service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent skin disability (PFB), recurrent sleep disability (obstructive sleep apnea), diabetes mellitus, and testicular disability (testicular cancer) as well as his psychiatric disability. The VA is instructed to obtain service records and verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Navy Reserve.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including seeking opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's stressors could not be verified. The dental disability claim is remanded due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS, depression, mood disorder NOS, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, alcohol use disorder, and adjustment disorder, is being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examination and evaluation of her respiratory, fibromyalgia, leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of left foot neuropathy and right foot neuropathy. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU from May 12, 2015.,Service connection has been established for back impairment, lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder with anxiety, depression, and insomnia) was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is more likely than not incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her preexisting condition worsened during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his service-connected other specified depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. The restoration of the 70% rating for PTSD from December 1, 2019, to May 10, 2021, is granted.

The Veteran's mental health disability, including PTSD, MDD, ADHD, and insomnia disorder, was rated at various levels from December 1, 2016 to April 5, 2019. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: one regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and another regarding reopening of a previously denied claim for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is remanded due to new evidence being added since the last decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities to service. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and the need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, depression, and adjustment disorder, are being evaluated.

Your appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the claim was fully granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's initial evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder prior to April 12, 2018 is granted. An evaluation in excess of 70 percent from April 12, 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for depression was dismissed. The claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is reopened and granted to an initial 50 percent rating from September 1, 2011. Service connection for the other conditions (bilateral hip disorder and bilateral lower extremity disorder) remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and an increased rating for PTSD and anxiety are being remanded due to the overlap in symptoms and need for a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.