Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received since the March 2014 rating decision, allowing the reopening of this claim. However, the issues regarding a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left achilles tendonitis are remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's appeal was previously denied due to lack of evidence supporting his claims.

The Board has denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depression with anxious distress and remanded the matter of initial evaluation for uterine fibroids.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder are likely due to traumatic events during her military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are denied as these conditions are symptoms of his already service-connected schizoaffective disorder.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is granted. The claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, and COPD are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, depression, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since December 11, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to inextricably intertwined issues, including a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the loss of voice.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for a respiratory disability was granted. His migraine headaches are currently rated at 50% prior to March 4, 2022 and denied any higher rating thereafter. The Veteran's umbilical hernia is currently rated at 20%, with no increased rating granted.,The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his migraine headaches due to the current 50% rating already assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the claims are still pending as further examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is granted. The claims for increased ratings for Diabetes Mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for an unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's psychiatric condition is rated at 50 percent disabling, while his bilateral hearing loss does not meet a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Depressive Disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to MST and Depression NOS, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to her military sexual trauma during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and her acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, as secondary to her service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a spine disability, and a heart disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of depression, anxiety, PTSD, scoliosis, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, and degenerative disc disease are to be evaluated in detail.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychosis, depressive disorder, and PTSD, is granted as service connected due to a chronic disease manifested within one year of separation from service. The right foot and ankle disorders are remanded for further development.