Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The rating for depressive disorder prior to March 2, 2016 and on and after that date are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination in addressing specific directives and the need for a new opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, increases in the staged ratings assigned for a lumbosacral strain associated with trigger points/muscle spasms (back disability), and ratings in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve. Additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression or PTSD, is related to his active service.

The Veteran's MDD has been rated at 70 percent since January 12, 2018. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are commensurate with occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, DDD of the lumbar spine, IVDS, and various knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 9, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA medical examination to assess the Veteran's employment capacity due to his service-connected disabilities. The issues of rating left ankle chronic ligament strain and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation and render him permanently housebound, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU and SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD with anxious distress, is attributable to an in-service motor vehicle accident. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related any disease or injury during a period of active duty, active duty for training (ACDUTRA), or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety and insomnia, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including her anxiety disorders and lung disease. The main reasons for the remand are to obtain additional medical records and examinations to determine the current severity of her conditions and their relationship to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed with a focus on whether the major depressive disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, panic disorder, and major depressive disorder, based on a confirmed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination to clarify his mental health diagnoses, determine the etiology of his vertigo symptoms, and address whether he meets criteria for a TDIU. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination, and requires further evaluation for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and cannabis dependence. The issues of service connection are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression, dementia, and sleep disturbances from Parkinson's disease has been granted a 70 percent rating since July 19, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for neuropathy of the right upper extremity and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military sexual trauma in service. Service connection was denied for depressive disorder not otherwise specified, substance abuse disorder, and substance induced depression.