Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and the validity of his psychiatric diagnoses. The VA is instructed to seek additional unit records, associate outstanding treatment records, and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on the etiology of any current psychiatric conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his active military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was rated at 50 percent prior to September 23, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including his service connection claim. The Veteran is asked to provide updated private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran had a psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, at any point during the appeal period and if it is related to his service-connected spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure by VA to obtain SSA disability records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, alcoholism, and sleep disorder are now before the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its decision, specifically regarding whether service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae contributed to the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders. The case is now being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and the submission of missing private treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder, is now pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for various conditions including bladder disorder, migraine disorder (claimed as light sensitivity), eye disorder, skin disorder, toenail disorder, fingernail disorder, impotency, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and loss of sensation of the upper and lower extremities. The claims are being remanded due to failure to provide VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD has been granted a 100 percent rating effective June 30, 2017. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate or based on the need of regular aid and attendance is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied these claims.,The Board also found no current right hip disability at this time, thus denying the claim for a right hip disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and lack of recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including as due to MST, will need further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and alcohol use disorder, as it was not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for panic disorder, effective December 29, 2016, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the symptoms and overall impairment caused by the Veteran's panic disorder more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent, effective November 2, 2017. The Board also granted TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examinations and failure to address discrepancies between subjective symptoms and objective findings. The Veteran is also required to undergo a new examination for his diabetic neuropathy, with specific attention to distinguishing other causes of disability from diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate previous VA opinions and the need for a new examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, kidney disorder, and hypertension are inextricably intertwined.