Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal. The hearing loss and hemorrhoids claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.,Service connection for OSA is also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining service personnel records, treatment records, verification of stressors, and examinations to determine if current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with depression has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the period on appeal, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA secondary to his service-connected PTSD, depressive disorder, and TBI is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, as secondary to a service-connected condition. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records, lack of proper notification for a scheduled VA examination, and the need for further development regarding toxic exposure in Saudi Arabia under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's testimony indicates his symptoms began in-service, but VA records show he received treatment for mental health issues in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD is denied. The claims for increased ratings for back and right-knee disabilities, as well as the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) and residuals of TBI are all remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, chronic cervicogenic tension related headaches, compression fracture T7, right knee degenerative joint disease, cervical strain, tinnitus, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and dermatitis, have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 28, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for higher initial staged ratings for the acquired psychiatric disorder and an earlier effective date of DEA benefits.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety disorder, depression, and hypertension. The decision also includes a request for additional development regarding these matters.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right thumb disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, but has remanded both claims due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of depressive disorder, diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities affecting the sciatic and femoral nerves have been denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations in September 2023.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has also been denied as it is dependent on the claims for increased ratings which were denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorder. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and depression and anxiety disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including depression, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, jaw disability, GERD, IBS, and tension headaches. The records will be sought to provide more information on these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes as secondary to the Veteran's claimed psychiatric condition due to a lack of verification of his reported service in Panama.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, neck disability, left arm disability, MDD, PTSD, and OSA. The conditions are all found to be related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD but has remanded the issue of service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include schizophrenia paranoid type, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims are pending resolution.