Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service or service-connected nephrolithiasis. Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records from Vet Center, chaplain, private psychiatrist, and Dr. R.F.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression and a migraine headache disability, as well as her right and left ankle disabilities and stomach disability. The claims are now remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, manifested by chronic sleep impairment and secondary to service-connected left knee conditions, is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder has been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder degenerative arthritis, cervical spine condition, and ankle, knee, foot, thigh, and back conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining outstanding medical records and readjudicating the claims on appeal. The Veteran is required to submit or authorize VA to obtain all non-VA medical records related to his claims, including those from a private primary care physician he was seeing since 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and Coronary Artery Disease was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 50% for PTSD, and the criteria for a higher rating are not met. For Coronary Artery Disease, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10% prior to August 23, 2016, or in excess of 60% thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The appeal for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and hypertension do not render him bedridden, confined to his immediate premise, or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. Therefore, SMC based on need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted on a presumptive basis due to his Persian Gulf service. Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia as a qualifying chronic disability related to his Persian Gulf service, and headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected somatization disorder.,The Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for somatization disorder with depressive disorder, NOS, PTSD and memory loss prior to September 6, 2019 is granted. The issue of a higher rating after that date remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's testimony regarding a stressful event in service is to be considered during the examination process.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's left foot disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disability are inadequate. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and whether it is related to service, as well as any other diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The issues of service connection for PTSD and Depression are pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and depression, is found to be related to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress features (claimed as PTSD), has been granted. The rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee remains at 10 percent and the effective date for this decision is not specified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied. The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder. The claims of service connection for hepatitis C and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.