Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case regarding the issue of an increased rating for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination to determine the severity of his right foot disability, as well as the etiology of his claimed TBI, neck, and nose disabilities. The claims for service connection are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his depressive disorder with TBI disability and migraine headaches, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to July 10, 2021 due to incomplete development. The claims are now before the Board again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to his major depressive disorder, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 1, 2008, for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that prior to this date, his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss or loss of use of his lower extremities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for back disability, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, nervousness, right hip and groin disability, and impotence. The issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, dissociative disorder, and schizoaffective disorder due to unresolved medical opinions regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are granted as related to his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records, VA treatment records, and providing notice regarding alternative sources of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD from September 29, 2022, and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including attempted corroboration of in-service stressors and a VA mental health examination to determine the nature and etiology of any posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for costochondritis is also dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation greater than 50 percent for depression before October 11, 2016, and his TDIU claim before that date were both denied. The Board found the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety is found to have caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea, and he is granted service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting an initial disability rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has found that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, right shoulder condition (impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis), anxiety, and depression. The issues are being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for PTSD and kidney failure is granted. The claim for a kidney disorder, related to service-connected psychiatric disorders, is remanded.