Depression decisions — 2023

Your claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been fully granted with the effective date of July 30, 2012. As a result, your appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claims for service connection for right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, anxiety and depression is granted. The Board finds the issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with the reopened claims and therefore remands them for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted an increased rating of 70 percent from May 1, 2005 to November 6, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD with a depressive disorder and TDIU have been remanded due to incomplete development of the record. The Veteran needs to provide VA with all outstanding treatment records, complete and return VA forms for treatment providers, and submit completed TDIU application forms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for major depression with generalized anxiety disorder and for TDIU due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 23, 2019. Service connection for hypertension, headaches, dizziness and syncope, dyspnea, skin condition, sleep disorder, and a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are denied.

Your appeals regarding earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the issues were not properly perfected.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and denied service connection for Erectile Dysfunction and a Respiratory Disorder (Tuberculosis).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and headache disorder are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing records. The issues include PTSD, sleep apnea (secondary to a psychiatric disorder), headaches, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected syncope, a higher initial rating for his service-connected psychiatric condition with TBI, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain pertinent medical records and provide the Veteran with an opinion regarding his reported 'dizzy spells'.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety, is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for adjustment, anxiety, and depressive disorder as well as pseudofolliculitis barbae have been denied. The VA Regional Office awarded service connection but did not grant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is granted an increased rating to 100 percent effective April 3, 2017. The other claims are denied as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, was dismissed. The claims for higher ratings related to his right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and left knee strain were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder is remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and major depressive disorder disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as her employment history is unclear, and she has failed to provide sufficient information to determine if she is unemployable due to these conditions.