Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, moderate recurrent major depression, insomnia, and psychotic disorder NOS is remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of verification of stressor.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD. The Board will remand the case for a new VA examination to address the credibility of the Veteran's reported stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to verify stressor events and obtain a VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the need for a VA examination to confirm any psychiatric diagnoses.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claim was filed on April 26, 2018, and therefore, the earliest possible effective date is April 26, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection claims for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, hemorrhoids, myasthenia gravis, sinusitis, otitis externa, and otitis media have been granted. The issues of service connection for myasthenia gravis, sinusitis, otitis externa, and otitis media are being remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his service in Vietnam. However, due to a lack of contemporaneous medical evidence, the VA is required to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if the contended stressor occurred and whether the current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete information from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the cause of the Veteran's death, including his psychiatric disabilities and service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified depressive disorder, is granted. The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to September 21, 2017.

Service connection for tension headaches has been granted.,An effective date prior to March 17, 2018, for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is denied.,A 100 percent rating for unspecified depressive disorder since March 17, 2018, is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and PTSD, finding that the weight of the competent and probative evidence did not show a link between the Veteran's current symptoms and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, development of records, and consideration of his TDIU claim. The issues include PTSD, urinary tract infection, splenomegaly, kidney stones, headaches (including TBI), fatigue, muscle and joint pain, respiratory disability, neurological disability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating from October 1, 2015. He also received TDIU benefits effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU prior to August 25, 2016 due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is granted service connection. However, his claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder and adjustment disorder, as secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the in-service event (coastal surveillance) and the current diagnosed conditions.