Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and combat involvement. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and depression, which are secondary to his service-connected back, bilateral knee, and right finger disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder. The decision is based on insufficient information regarding the nature of these conditions during active duty.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, which is already service-connected due to MST, needs further development. The decision also indicates there may be an additional mental health condition (likely depression) not yet considered in her current rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety was denied, as the evidence did not show a link between his current condition and active service. His claim for TDIU was also denied due to lack of preclusion from substantially gainful employment solely due to his right thumb disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and scars have been remanded due to substantial worsening of symptoms. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current extent and severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression) is granted service connection. Residuals of a concussion and bilateral pes planus are denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar with depression, is granted as service-connected. The claim for TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to new VA examination records being added to her file. She is asked to authorize additional private or VA treatment records and complete a VA Form 21-8940.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and granted special monthly compensation based on 'statutory housebound' status under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between his sleep apnea and his service-connected depressive disorder, as well as other potential issues.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines and major depression render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was denied.,An effective date prior to October 24, 2012 for the award of service connection for MDD was also denied. The earlier effective date of October 24, 2012 for TDIU was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for several reasons, including obtaining missing service personnel records and employment history from Social Security Administration. Additionally, a new medical opinion is needed regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected mental disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically SSA disability benefits application records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disabilities are being reviewed.

The Veteran's vertigo is found to have been incurred during his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,An increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, is granted for the Veteran's left ankle disability (synovitis with lateral collateral ligament sprain).,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is remanded due to the need for a new opinion regarding preexistence of the condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including rating determinations and service connection for various conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for initial review of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, consisting of persistent depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder with opioid use in sustained remission, has been granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for temporary total evaluations due to hospitalization and TDIU were denied because the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder was not yet established at the time of the hospitalizations. The effective date for the acquired psychiatric disorder is set a week later, on January 13, 2015.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's neck, back, hip, and thigh disabilities, as well as his depressive disorder. The remand requests additional examinations and opinions to address functional impairment and historical severity of these conditions.