Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's reported in-service stressor event, which may help establish service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the impact of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly his psychiatric disability, on his cause of death. The case is being remanded for an additional medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are not granted as service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to a lack of VA examination, as well as potential inextricability between service connection for PTSD/Depression and substance abuse.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for sinus disability, acquired mental health disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to May 6, 2019. A higher rating is denied for any portion of the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection is also being remanded for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia) disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for depression as secondary to the service-connected low back disability due to lack of a current diagnosis and uncooperative nature during the VA examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's PTSD with Persistent Depressive Disorder, finding that his symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent since April 10, 2009. The rating was granted based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, and traumatic brain injury due to potential errors in the previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome. The other issues have been remanded due to outstanding records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

Your claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, and a sleep condition have been granted. The rating assigned is 50% from February 10, 2015, and 100% from October 23, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including depression and PTSD, is related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's surviving spouse withdrew the claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, diabetes mellitus type II, diverticulitis, elevated cholesterol, Parkinsonism, gall stones, hypertension, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, osteoarthritis, and pancytopenia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a facial disability, left and right knee disorders, sleep condition, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence received since the last final rating decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and major depression with psychotic features. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep difficulties are separate from his OSA and caused or aggravated by his service-connected MDD with PTSD.