Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress (claimed as depression and anxiety), left knee disability, and low back disability due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several issues, including those related to right knee and ankle osteoarthritis, shoulder osteoarthritis with impingement, diabetes mellitus, unspecified depressive disorder, rheumatoid arthritis of the left knee, and rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee.,The Board also remanded two issues: entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for total right knee replacement from April 1, 2017, and service connection for a right hip disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, and insomnia disorder are found to be related to his service.,Migraine headaches are determined to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied, and the cases of increased rating for PTSD and headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) and an effective date prior to May 12, 2017. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression were rated at 70 percent prior to January 20, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD but granted TDIU due to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development and examination, including consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded due to procedural errors, and the issues on appeal will be readjudicated in their original posture from the July 2018 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining private treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are being evaluated to determine their onset and relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, specifically whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed all 34 issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims, except for the service connection for irritable bowel syndrome which was not appealed.

The Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his service.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the left knee has been remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected right knee sprain. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension remains in a similar state.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, constipation, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD) due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's depressive disorder, finding total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, grossly inappropriate behavior, memory loss, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete medical opinion, requiring a new examination and evaluation of the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depression. The issues of increased ratings for migraine disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as TDIU, are being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no indications of severe disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service clinical records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and opioid use disorder. The primary basis for this decision is that there is a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected left wrist disability.