Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. These include increased ratings for the disorder from November 8, 2007, to July 12, 2017, and from December 1, 2017, as well as a TDIU prior to August 21, 2012.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches are also granted as secondary to service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of recent treatment records.

The appeals for service connection and new evidence were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a back disability due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examinations. The claims are also remanded for further development regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for an effective date prior to February 7, 2017 and a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder have been dismissed due to her death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral flat feet, and a bilateral shin disability are remanded due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a direct relationship between any current psychiatric condition and service or service-connected disabilities. For left knee arthritis, ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher than 10 percent prior to August 31, 2021, and on the basis of limitation of flexion after that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions, specifically PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which he attributes to in-service stressors including a physical assault and living in small quarters during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is denied. His claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, is granted with a 70% disability rating but no higher. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability is also denied. The issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back disability and depression, as well as secondary service connection for depression related to a lower back disability.,New evidence received since previous decisions raises reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and hypertension, but the psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as it involves a complex medical issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and pes planus due to additional development being needed, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion on the nature of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including whether they are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claims for service connection and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, was denied as a matter of law because he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

An effective date of August 23, 2005 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of recent medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.