Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted service connection. The case has been remanded for further action regarding OSA, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and AUD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder, on a direct basis due to in-service trauma.

The Veteran's loss of portion of skull, stiffness and loss of motion of cervical spine post laminectomy, and unspecified neurocognitive disorder (UNCD) and unspecified depressive disorder are all granted. The Chiari I malformation and its residuals, including vertigo, remain under review.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity during the period from August 20, 2007 to October 22, 2012. The symptoms included depressed mood, disturbances of motivation and mood, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to October 29, 2022.,As of October 29, 2022, the Veteran's rating for major depressive disorder was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient development, including a need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions and insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service or her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding its onset in service. The Veteran's current diagnoses include PTSD, depressive disorder, and personality disorder.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The right shoulder disability and TDIU issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Lyme disease and major depressive disorder, claimed as secondary to Lyme disease, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are now pending further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his bilateral foot disabilities, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service emotional instability and its relation to his current psychiatric condition, as well as whether his conscientious objector request constitutes an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA mental health examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, higher initial rating for bronchial asthma, earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea, and whether ratings for both conditions should be combined.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as they did not manifest within one year of service or are otherwise related to service.,Service connection for depressive disorder unspecified with anxious distress (claimed as PTSD) is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric condition, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and PTSD, was denied. The right and left knee patellar subluxation and malalignment were granted a 20% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted. However, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has decided that a temporary total rating for convalescence following right knee arthroscopy with chondroplasty is granted. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence.