Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined for his eye disabilities and acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The examinations were not conducted as per the October 2022 remand directive.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he withdrew his appeal in its entirety before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder and bilateral hearing loss disability, have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from his private psychiatrist.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder was denied, and the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for unspecified depressive disorder, left knee disability (claimed as a left leg condition), and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar radiculopathy have been reopened. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C are remanded due to the need for additional records, duty to assist notifications, and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been reopened and granted. However, the claim remains denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and related conditions. The Veteran needs additional examination and support from alternative evidence such as buddy statements.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's reported PTSD and depression are not supported by corroborated stressors, but hypertension is being examined further as it may be related to a psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder and denied service connection for left foot and right foot disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities resulted in total social and occupational impairment from July 23, 2007, to September 18, 2012.,Right hand disabilities were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The claims for service connection for back, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), TBI residuals, sleep apnea secondary to TBI, and seizure disorder secondary to TBI or acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional development is needed, including obtaining a medical opinion on the etiology of her major depressive disorder and updating her work history.

The appeal for higher staged initial ratings for major depression and anxiety disorder is dismissed as the issues have already been finally decided by the Board. The appeal for an earlier effective date of October 21, 2005 for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is also dismissed.

The Veteran's in-patient treatment for service-connected persistent depressive disorder did not exceed 21 days, thus the temporary total evaluation is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a rating increase to 100 percent for Major Depressive Disorder and for SMC based on housebound status, finding that it was not factually ascertainable prior to August 24, 2015 that the Veteran's MDD warranted such a rating.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, back disability, neck disability, and right shoulder tendinopathy with strain are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a heart disorder, rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 10, 2015, and TDIU prior to October 14, 2021.