Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not addressing whether special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is warranted. The Veteran needs a VA examination to evaluate this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral tinea pedis and an acquired psychiatric condition due to incomplete records and the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression, separate from her service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence after the issuance of the May 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as they have withdrawn their remaining issue on appeal, which was the claim for a higher disability rating for service-connected depressive disorder associated with lumbar spine fusion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, and headaches are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is granted as secondary to the service-connected depressive disorder. Service connection for a jaw disability remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The decision grants service connection for major depressive disorder and a temporary total disability rating for major depressive disorder, effective from November 18, 2022.,An increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for suprasellar tumor, status-post resection, with resolved residual left eye defect and headaches is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted, with an effective date of May 27, 1968.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's mental health disorders will be further evaluated, including obtaining service treatment records from his active duty and National Guard service periods.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder are subsumed by his diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD was granted. His petition to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and hip conditions, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period from January 14, 2011 to March 21, 2016.

The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from August 9, 2013 to February 11, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates for his service-connected Major Depression and Panic Disorder, as well as TDIU, are being remanded due to the submission of new medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 4, 2021.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a rating in excess of 50 percent for other specified depressive disorder prior to January 18, 2023 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, as well as for TDIU prior to that date. The Board has dismissed these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral elbow lateral epicondylitis. The remaining issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, residuals of injury to right pinky finger with limitation of motion, and a bilateral shoulder disability are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ascites, gynecomastia, and depression associated with liver disease due to a need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, not otherwise specified and psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction resulted in total social impairment throughout the appeal period. The Board granted a total disability rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as it was aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. Other issues are pending further development and evidence submission.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,The petition to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fascia are denied.