Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder due to OSA or psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, MDD and insomnia. The examination is required to provide opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep disorders.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and a TDIU have been remanded due to procedural issues. The initial rating for unspecified depressive disorder prior to May 21, 2019 was denied, while the claim for major depressive disorder from that date has been granted at 70%. The lumbosacral strain claim was also denied prior to May 21, 2019 and the degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS claim was granted at 20% effective May 21, 2019. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity claims were both granted with a 20% rating from October 23, 2020. The TDIU claim prior to July 11, 2014 was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depression, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete compliance with previous remands and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including right ankle ankylosis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and tinnitus) rendered him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment prior to March 16, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if any psychiatric disorder is related to service, including exposure at Camp LeJeune. The personality disorder claim is denied as it is not a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for each condition were inadequate and remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's service records contain numerous complaints of ankle, knee, and foot pain. She underwent VA examinations in July 2020 where diagnoses of bilateral tibia stress fracture, bilateral ankle strain, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were found.

The Board has denied service connection for MDD and remanded the issue of PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, MDD, GAD, and insomnia have been granted. The Board found sufficient credible supporting evidence to establish the Veteran's in-service stressor events and concluded that her current diagnoses are related to these events.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered with consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including a claim for residuals of a left toe injury and evaluations for persistent depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder in sustained remission and traumatic brain injury. The Board also ordered remand on issues regarding whether service connection had previously been established for loss of the maxilla and for loss of teeth under specific disability codes. Additionally, the TDIU claim prior to November 5, 2012 is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bladder disability other than prostatitis, and a liver disability due to insufficient evidence on file. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board is remanding the case to reconsider the reduction of service-connected depression and PTSD from 100 percent to 50 percent disabling, effective February 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, secondary to a back disability (spondylolysis), has been dismissed. Service connection is granted for the Veteran's back disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and neck disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The TDIU claim is remanded as it requires resolution of the issue of service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bi-polar I disorder, PTSD, mood disorder, and depression, is granted as service-connected due to aggravation by the removal of his right testicle. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and panic disorder. The examiner is asked to assess whether these disorders are at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's active service.