Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to his active service and service connection for this condition is granted. The low back disability remains remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are not causally related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for TBI and PTSD with depression, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development and an addendum medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a finger condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, insomnia, and major depression is being reviewed again.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, finding that the Veteran's mental health conditions are at least as likely as not due to his active service. The stressor incident involving discovering a friend's body after suicide is considered aggravation of these conditions by his now service-connected persistent depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, severe cocaine use disorder, or severe alcohol use disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render him unable to maintain gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs additional information about the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, particularly regarding PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety disorder) but denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The psychiatric condition is found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected right upper extremity radiculopathy and cervical strain, while the sleep apnea is not considered due to in-service exposure or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and their relationship to his military service. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and opinion to address the Veteran's service connection claims. The claims are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner must consider the Appellant's reported in-service stressors and assess whether they are related to his current conditions.

The Board denied service connection for depression and a back disability, including degenerative disc disease, due to the inability to verify the character of discharge for the Veteran's period of active service from November 1989 to June 1993.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his service. The stressor is not corroborated with credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,Prior to September 28, 2021, the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was evaluated at 50 percent. The appeal for an increased rating is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression with anti-social personality disorder, on the basis of substitution. The evidence is approximately balanced as to whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disability was related to his active service.