Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to secondary service connection and TDIU claims. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again, and a new opinion on obesity as an intermediate step in causing or aggravating his OSA is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder. The evidence supports the diagnosis of these conditions based on in-service stressors.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for chronic headaches is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

Service connection has been withdrawn or dismissed for several conditions. Service connection is granted for depression and anxiety disorder, with a 40% disability rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected testicular cancer and its metastasis to the retroperitoneum are granted as well as several related conditions. The cause of death is also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder (in remission), finding that these conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The claim for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and a need for further examination. The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus is being examined to determine if it was aggravated by his service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for asbestosis and granted it. The mental health claim is remanded due to outstanding records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic prostatitis, to include incontinence and urinary frequency was denied. The Board found that the disability did not require an appliance or absorbent materials changed more than four times per day. For TDIU, the Veteran met the criteria as his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's mental health conditions, including PTSD, are being reviewed for their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 11, 2018 due to insufficient information about the Veteran's employment during this period. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that it did not cause total occupational and social impairment during the appeal period. Therefore, a higher rating of 100 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to address his right shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric condition, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, panic disorder without agoraphobia, substance use disorder, anxiety disorder, sleep disturbance, and depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective as of June 9, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected psychiatric disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD and major depressive disorder, should be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and potential private treatment records. The goal is to verify if the Veteran's unit was present at Fort Drum for cold weather training when a tank accident occurred, which could support his claim of service connection for PTSD and MDD.