Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD. The decision finds that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault where he was bit on his face by another service member. His MDD is also found to be related to this in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,Service connection for a left ankle condition was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or an injury incurred therein.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was dismissed as he withdrew his request.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential missing service treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea secondary to a service-connected condition, and bilateral foot condition secondary to knee conditions are all being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his death. The appellant needs a new VA examination and an autopsy report.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The claims are being reviewed due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder prior to May 14, 2019 and thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including manic depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction and has remanded his increased rating claim for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are causally related to his in-service stressors. The TDIU issue is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment on and after January 23, 2009. Prior to this date, referral for extraschedular TDIU consideration was not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and substance abuse, is dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for liver damage, a headache disorder (including migraine headaches), a psychiatric disability (to include anxiety and depression), and sleep apnea as these conditions are not shown to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's MDD is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective April 5, 2018. The Veteran's TDIU claim for the entire period on appeal is also granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, back disability, and bilateral foot disability was granted.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 60%, effective April 1, 2016. The claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder with adjustment-like disorder and unspecified smoking-related disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran needs a new VA examination and any relevant treatment records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for loss of vision was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim of service connection for psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted based on the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and for TDIU prior to June 10, 2019 due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for sinus bradycardia, recurring bronchitis (claimed as chronic bronchitis), residuals of infiltrative keratitis in the left eye, a skin disorder, lipoma, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran has not provided sufficient information or evidence to establish service connection for these conditions.