Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for an adequate examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner is to determine if these conditions are related to service or superimposed on a personality disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected major depression due to chronic pain with anxiety disorder warranted a 70 percent disability rating as of October 11, 2016. The effective date for this increased rating is set at October 11, 2017.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for depressive disorder due to chronic pain symptoms with major depressive-like features, effective from April 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left hip disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, right and left shoulder disabilities, and a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings, finding that an earlier effective date is not warranted based on the September 1, 2022 intent to file form received by VA.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran also receives special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate from July 13, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to a lack of a current diagnosis for PTSD and an inadequate VA examination. The case will be reconsidered with a new VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension due to insufficient evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms, as well as inadequate development of the record. The Veteran is entitled to VA examinations to confirm her diagnoses and determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for total disability rating based on individual unemployability, increased ratings for left knee strain and instability, and major depressive disorder due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from December 31, 2015. From March 28, 2017, the Veteran's award of TDIU was predicated on PTSD alone and his additional service-connected disabilities were independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are related to in-service stressors, leading to service connection for these conditions. Service connection is also granted for urinary dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection, including PTSD. The examiner is requested to clarify the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder(s), diagnose any PTSD based on personal assault (MST) or other stressors, and determine if it is at least as likely as not related to in-service events.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and unverified stressor claims. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for private treatment records, obtain Social Security Administration records, and undergo a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder, lumbar spine DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and IBS have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for residuals of frostbite has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches has been granted.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder and major depressive disorder have also been granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depression) is caused by his chronic pain from his service-connected back and knee disabilities, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals on the issues of higher ratings for depressive disorder and right wrist disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including other specified anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder, chronic right shoulder (dominant), intercostal strain, mid thoracic muscular strain, muscle injury (left muscles of respiration), muscle injury (muscles of left side and back of the neck), and muscle injury (thoracic spinal muscles).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and issues related to service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST). The Veteran's correct contact information needs to be verified, and a VA examination is required to determine if an in-service stressor event occurred and whether the Veteran currently has PTSD as a result of such event.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the November 2018 VA examination and opinion, requiring a new examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.