Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate, right and left knee disabilities for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include major depressive disorder, cervical spine disability, total knee replacements on both knees, gout in multiple joints, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a claimed in-service stressor and the relationship between current psychiatric conditions and service. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected depression and bronchitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no prior communication of record indicating an intent to claim these conditions.,No effective dates earlier than the assigned ones are granted due to lack of prior claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, thoracic spine disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, and migraine headaches due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased disability ratings are all set to June 21, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is proximately caused by VA care.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and neuropathy of the extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from January 11, 2019 to September 18, 2019. Prior to this period, his diabetes alone did not prevent him from securing and following such employment.

The Veteran's depression is granted as service connected, with the Board finding a link between his in-service stressor and current diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip disability, and left hip disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder due to lack of corroborated in-service stressors. Service connection for Major Depression is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and depression, both secondary to a seizure disorder. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea disorder, and headache disorder are found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected knee disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe has prevented her from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment for the period from April 28, 2003, to May 31, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and depression with anxious distress, sleep disturbances, stimulant use disorder in remission, and alcohol use disorder in remission, was granted on May 17, 2007. The effective date is set to the date of receipt of the claim (May 17, 2007).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 13, 2008.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status and/or aid and attendance. The remand is necessary because substantial compliance with the Board's directive has not occurred.

The Veteran's depression is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and because there is evidence that his psychiatric conditions may be related to service. The case will be reviewed again with an in-person or telehealth examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA records and SSA records.