Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his psychiatric disorders and fungal infection to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder. The Veteran is required to be provided a new VA examination by a different examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, finding that the evidence does not support a causal link between her current diagnoses and care provided by the Indiana VAMC.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including requesting an updated VA Form 21-8940. The matter will be readjudicated in conjunction with their appeal for an increased initial rating for depression and panic disorder.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, and unspecified trauma and stress-related disorder with major depressive disorder and schizophrenia have been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for unspecified trauma and stress-related disorder has been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of an initial rating for PTSD with depression. The Veteran is required to undergo further VA examination to assess his current symptoms and their impact on his employment.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 14, 2002, for the grant of service connection for depression. The Veteran testified about his symptoms during a hearing on February 14, 2002, and requested service connection for depression.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depression and somatic symptom disorder was granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective September 23, 2021. Separate ratings for physical manifestations (headaches and vertigo) were also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including any reported sexual trauma. The examiner must address all diagnoses during the appeal period and provide opinions on whether each condition is at least as likely as not caused by or superimposed on his personality disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hip trochanteric bursitis and gout are granted.,The Veteran's right hand disability, back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left leg scar is remanded.

The Board has determined that the remand directives have not been substantially complied with and the matter must be returned to VA for further development regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Persistent Depressive Disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's TBI, migraine, depression, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional addendum opinions to determine if there is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's MS, recurrent skin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to her active-duty service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher or lower rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted prior to November 26, 2021. From that date, the Veteran's PTSD/MDD alone qualifies for a grant of TDIU and SMC based on housebound status.

Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act. An initial 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disability, from February 24, 2011 to the present, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms, including depression, headaches, nightmares, and sleep disruptions, are related to his in-service head injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his private treatment records.

The Veteran seeks an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for her acquired psychiatric disorder, but the Board finds that she does not meet this criteria.,The Veteran's low back and bilateral hip conditions are remanded to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and private evaluations.