Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and depression have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for hearing loss has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a depressive disorder because the new evidence did not show that his condition was aggravated by service, and he failed to appear for a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability claim is being remanded due to noncompliance with previous Board directives and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to July 6, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities. From July 6, 2020, the claim for a TDIU is denied as he was incarcerated for a felony conviction.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to restore his VA disability compensation benefits that were withheld due to incarceration, as his felony conviction was overturned on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied by the Board, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence, as well as for updating inpatient treatment records. The Veteran's statements regarding an in-service incident are considered.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to procedural issues and the need for updated medical examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his knee disabilities and depressive disorder, are being evaluated to determine their impact on his employability.

The Board has decided that the initial rating for major depressive disorder needs to be reconsidered due to new evidence, and thus the case is being sent back to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to a disagreement with the October 2021 decision, and now requires referral to the Director for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's appeals for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The claims of bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Depression, Anxiety), and lower back condition are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to support the Veteran's claims for service connection. This includes obtaining medical records and personnel records from her Army Reserves service, as well as updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including a trauma-related disorder (a subthreshold of PTSD) and unspecified depressive disorder, is related to service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder. The claim was not granted due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder is remanded due to inadequate prior examination, and a new opinion is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his claims of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU prior to July 19, 2022. The VA will obtain updated information about the Veteran's employment history.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, is granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected conditions, specifically migraine headaches and unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and lymphoma due to herbicide exposure as there is insufficient evidence to make a determination on these issues.