Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The rating for the respiratory disability is being remanded.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for major depressive disorder with psychotic features, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is moot due to the grant of a total schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the nature, etiology, and service connection of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of TBI with residuals, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, other specified trauma disorder, chronic lumbosacral muscular strain with degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, post traumatic synovitis left ankle, and TDIU are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD, service connection for a low back disability, and TDIU due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims, including those related to neurobehavioral conditions, unspecified multiple neurological problems, and various extremity conditions. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder will also be remanded.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, effective prior to November 16, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and sleep impairment is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected low back disability and depressive disorder did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of April 28, 2014, and the rating assigned is 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for an earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headaches as secondary to her service-connected acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder with anxious distress and persistent insomnia disorder). The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating prior to February 4, 2019, and from February 4, 2019, his psychiatric condition was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but did not result in total occupation and social impairment. The Board also found that he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to December 13, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether he meets the criteria for an extraschedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and substance dependence/use disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia and depressive disorder, as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The VA opinions found no relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and his active service or any service-connected disability.

Your SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted, which is a full grant of benefits. The appeal is dismissed as there are no unresolved issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to insufficient evidence of current disability related to his reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities have been denied multiple times, with the most recent denial being in December 2014. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD has been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) has also been remanded.