Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The decision is based on the appellant's subjective complaints of pain and weakness during military service, as well as his current diagnoses.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her depressive disorder and right knee disability, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and anxiety, dysthymic disorder, and depression as components of service-connected PTSD. Service connection for hearing loss disability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including bipolar disorder with substance abuse disorder, has been reopened and granted. The evidence shows that the Veteran's bipolar disorder began during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 10, 2020 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying a reported in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is now pending again.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for depression was granted. However, the claim itself is dismissed as it has already been granted and there is no longer a case or controversy. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hernia was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims as moot because a final July 2019 decision denied increased ratings and earlier effective dates for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, and ED have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the VA needs to verify in-service stressors related to the Veteran's psychiatric disability claim and obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the effective date of TDIU and concerns about VA's duty to assist. The Veteran needs a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his major depressive disorder rating remains at 70 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance, as he is able to perform self-care activities.

The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War Era is confirmed, and presumptive service connection applies. The Board finds further development needed for all claims on appeal based on this service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, shoulder condition, and hypertension. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided the Veteran's claim for a 10 percent disability rating for condyloma accuminata (venereal warts) and remanded his service connection claim for acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified mood disorder and depression.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected lower back disability due to conflicting evidence of record regarding when the Veteran's psychiatric disability began.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is granted, while his claims for bilateral hearing loss and right tibia strain are denied. The initial rating for post-laminectomy syndrome of the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent, and the initial ratings for PTSD and major depressive disorder remain at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressors. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.