Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, headache disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome. These conditions are presumed due to burn pit exposure under the PACT Act. The claims for chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis have also been granted as these conditions are presumptively related to burn pit exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, low back disability, and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depression is reopened, but the claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hypertension rating is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and service connection for depression was granted, with a 70% rating effective February 13, 2018. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, left hip disability (secondary to back), depression, and loss of teeth have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and active duty service.,There is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive and unspecified anxiety disorders, is dismissed as the condition was previously granted by a rating decision. The appeal for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD, major depressive disorder, and cannabis use disorder are rated at 100% prior to September 12, 2022. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is granted prior to September 12, 2022. The Board has found the VA knee examination report of limited probative value and remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent right and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD (including anxiety and depression) and TDIU, finding that the weight of evidence is against a nexus between current diagnoses and active service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 23, 2014 to December 12, 2019 due to his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).,From December 13, 2019 to May 3, 2021, the Veteran was granted a TDIU on a schedular basis for his MDD.

The Board has dismissed the legacy appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because the issue is no longer before the Board under the legacy appeals system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her back disability, bilateral pes planus, and depressive disorder are being remanded due to the failure to report for necessary VA examinations without good cause. The issues regarding the rating of depressive disorder prior to October 2, 2015; from October 2, 2015, to August 3, 2020; and after August 3, 2020 are being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia is granted a 100 percent rating from January 26, 2015 through July 5, 2020. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from April 5, 2013 through January 25, 2015 is dismissed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, are related to his detention and interrogation in East Berlin during service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU, on an extraschedular basis, is granted from June 24, 2013 to the present due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for an updated opinion on the combined functional impact of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2019. Additionally, updated SSA records are needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including a referral to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability (including major depression with psychotic features) due to the lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's headache disability, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities (depression and insomnia), needs further clarification.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, right hip disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including MDD and anxiety) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There is no current diagnosis of a right hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.