Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder) is granted service connection. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to prostate cancer, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder has been granted, with the effective date to be determined based on VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for persistent depressive disorder is dismissed as the appeal is moot due to a full grant of service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for epididymitis with ejaculatory duct obstruction is denied. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by VA examiners, and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and left lumbar radiculopathy are being reviewed.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 50% disability rating effective July 26, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left shoulder degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board has remanded the case to consider service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current PTSD disability is related to his military sexual trauma during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and headaches have been reopened. The claim of increased rating for frostbite residuals and cervical radiculopathy has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in a final June 1995 rating decision. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.,A rating of 50 percent for residuals, left skull trauma, is discontinued from July 26, 2018 due to impermissible evaluation under two separate ratings.

The Board granted service connection for depression and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The Veteran's attorney, J.V., is eligible to the direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the August 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective October 6, 2021, but no earlier.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and left knee strain are being remanded for additional development as the current evaluations do not reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule and conduct a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors for PTSD. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression. The examiner is asked to consider whether her conditions are related to MST and to assess the degree of overlap between her MDD and other specified personality disorder.

The Veteran's TBI is remanded for additional medical opinion to determine if it is related to the motor vehicle accident in service.,The Veteran's tenosynovitis of the right hand and left hand are remanded for additional medical opinion regarding whether they are secondary to cervical spondylosis and other service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for additional medical opinion regarding whether it is related to PTSD, lower extremity disabilities (but-for causes).

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for anxiety and depressive disorder, as well as lumbar spine DJD prior to June 26, 2019, was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety and depressive disorder or a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine DJD prior to June 26, 2019.