Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches and unspecified depressive disorder has been restored. The right knee disability claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors, and additional evidence is needed to determine if his acquired mental health disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression. The case is returned for further development and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depressive disorder, and general anxiety disorder) has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to January 14, 2020, due to service-connected disabilities has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations. The issues include psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, non-epilepsy seizures, and a respiratory disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess his psychiatric disorder and determining whether he experienced an in-service stressor related to preparing for possible war with Russia. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left knee meniscal repair, lumbar strain, and partial paralysis of the right sciatic nerve are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected costochondritis and any associated musculoskeletal impairment. Additionally, an examination is needed to determine if she manifests an acquired psychiatric disorder as a complication of her service-connected costochondritis.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from January 27, 2016. The Veteran's TBI residuals are granted a 40 percent rating, also effective from January 27, 2016.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection, while his left knee and left ankle osteoarthritis are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, and additional evidence needs to be considered.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism. The rating for the Veteran's hypothyroidism remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total disability rating for PTSD is dismissed as she is not currently service-connected for PTSD. Her claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for aphthous ulcers are denied due to lack of proximate cause.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,TDIU is granted based on the combined rating of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and insufficient addendum opinions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus issues are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim is remanded to develop evidence regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's left knee disability rating is remanded due to a new MRI showing increased severity.,A new VA examination is needed for the left knee issue.

The Veteran's depression and PTSD are not separately service-connected disabilities, and the Board denied increased ratings for PTSD with anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder as well as an increased rating for low back disability. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions and new evidence raised by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being evaluated, and an opinion on its etiology in relation to service is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as secondary to a service-connected lesion upper left retromolar pad. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 8, 2016. This decision grants a higher rating for her service-connected PTSD.