Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder prior to August 21, 2020, is dismissed without prejudice as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hypertension has been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and right lower extremity pain (claimed as sciatica).,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his foot conditions have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The issues of low back, right leg, left leg, and acquired psychiatric conditions are being reviewed.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at a 70 percent rating, effective from October 8, 2012. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable rating for the service-connected migraine headache disability due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal. The earlier effective dates for major depressive disorder (MDD) and hypertension (HTN) disabilities were granted.

An initial 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD with other specified depressive disorder is granted, effective January 1, 2015.,A total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is granted, effective August 30, 2012, to October 14, 2013.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be at least as likely as not related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his reported in-service stressors and the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for compliance with a previous June 2022 remand order, which included scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and nexus opinion. The Veteran was not provided with the correct address information by VA, leading to his cancellation of the November 2022 appointment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder not otherwise specified prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, leading to a TDIU being granted. The Board also found that there were issues with service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at a 50 percent rating from March 22, 2017. The Board has denied an initial higher rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD have been granted increased ratings, with the effective date beginning May 13, 2015. A higher rating of 70% has also been granted for his conditions starting December 20, 2019. The Veteran is now eligible for SMC due to his service-connected disabilities and Meniere's disease. TDIU based solely on PTSD prior to December 20, 2019, was not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. The VA examiner did not identify all psychological disabilities present during the appeal period, nor could they determine if any of these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 28, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder were granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective February 17, 2021.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that her current mental health problems are due to her military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim based on muscle herniation with muscle injury, proximal aspect left thigh is denied as the impairment does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU exclusively due to anxiety disorder with depression remains remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and MDD was denied, while her TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service. The Veteran served in special operations units and did not seek treatment for mental health issues during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders.