Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and confirmed diagnosis by a VA psychologist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right shoulder and knee conditions, depressive disorder, and lumbosacral strain, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 31, 2015. The Board denied the temporary total evaluation for the right shoulder disability and granted TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are currently assigned a noncompensable rating. The claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for PTSD and erectile dysfunction (ED) is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for an increased rating for depressive disorder and service connection for diplopia, large divergence insufficiency due to the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, finding no credible in-service stressor event that would support a diagnosis of PTSD. The diagnoses of depression and anxiety were also not supported by the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address secondary service connection claims and provide addendum opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder, PTSD, and unspecified sleep-awake disorder, are related to his military service.

The Board denied a TDIU because the Veteran did not complete and return the required VA Form 21-8940, which is necessary to substantiate his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, as well as bilateral knee disorder. The cases are remanded to allow for further development including obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, effective March 17, 2011.

The claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disability had its onset in service or is etiologically related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a left eyebrow scar, right ear hearing loss disability, and low back disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease has been granted, as new and material evidence was received.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has also been granted, with the condition being related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks and Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder in partial remission.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a skin rash and persistent depressive disorder, secondary to a skin rash due to insufficient evidence in the file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, anxiety, and PTSD, due to a lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, and his anxiety and depressive disorders are rated at 70 percent. The Board has granted a TDIU effective August 29, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as anxiety and depression) because there is no current diagnosis of such a condition in accordance with DSM-5.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her PTSD with major depressive disorder and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and the potential relevance of records from the Vet Center.