Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The case is sent back to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions are related to military service, particularly considering the Veteran's reported MST.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, as well as sleep apnea. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression) as it is etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for Major Depressive Disorder was granted, with an initial disability rating of 70 percent effective July 30, 2022. The appeal remains pending for increased ratings for other conditions.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is currently rated at 30 percent prior to July 12, 2021 and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) is currently rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder remains in dispute and has been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically depression, is found to be caused or aggravated by her service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's CFS is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, bilateral flat feet, a bilateral shoulder condition, asthma, cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, and bilateral knee conditions are being remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine the nature and cause of these disabilities.,Your current hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion obtained is insufficient and requires further development, including a new examination to address the Veteran's lay testimony regarding his anxiety symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claims for stomach condition, left knee disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tendinitis are now rated at 30% effective July 30, 2016. The Veteran's depressive disorder is now rated at 70%. A TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective February 8, 2017. The appeal is remanded for further examination and consideration of a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of mental health disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney stone condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, osteoarthritis of the cervical spine associated with ankylosing spondylitis, and left hip condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his claimed conditions and their relationship to his service-connected disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder and his TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,An effective date earlier than May 7, 2015 for service connection of major depressive disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected regional complex pain syndrome of left lower extremity.,Service connection has also been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and insomnia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, trauma/stressor-related disorder, and/or PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current diagnoses to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (variously diagnosed to include chronic adjustment disorder and unspecified depressive disorder), left foot disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and associated radiculopathies, along with his depressive disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of response from the Veteran or his representative regarding additional evidence added to the claims file since the last SSOC.