Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is granted. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are denied. Arteriosclerotic heart disease to include coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is granted, as it is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on evidence showing the Veteran experienced symptoms during service due to military noise exposure and these have persisted since then.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and claustrophobia) is remanded as the Board finds it necessary to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at a 50 percent prior to July 24, 2016 and at a 70 percent thereafter.,The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was restored to 50 percent effective February 1, 2019. The issue of a higher rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, liver condition (claimed as cirrhosis and liver cancer), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder and depression) due to insufficient evidence addressing the service separation examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating for depression prior to July 10, 2018, residuals of a TBI, eye disorder (spots in eyes), and temporomandibular disorder. The Veteran is not shown to have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and the issues related to his psychiatric conditions and injuries are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for depressive disorder and TDIU prior to August 26, 2020 is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU effective August 26, 2020.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and a right thumb injury, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim seeking an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder was submitted on September 6, 2011. The effective date of the grant of a 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to TDIU is set at October 23, 2009.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the entirety of the appeal period, which extends back to October 23, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and multiple orthopedic conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he meets the requirements for a TDIU based on his combined disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder and traumatic spondylolythesis, fracture left articular facet of L-5, have resulted in unemployability effective April 30, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected major depressive disorder, left foot crushing injury, and left ankle tendonitis are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), symptoms attributable to alcoholism, left and right knee conditions, sleep disorder, colloid cyst, and migraines. The Veteran's statements and medical records are considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.

A 70 percent evaluation for PTSD with MDD is granted.,An 80 percent evaluation prior to February 2, 2021, for partial complex seizure disorder is granted. An evaluation in excess of 80 percent beginning February 2, 2021, for partial complex seizure disorder is denied.,A compensable evaluation for cervical strain disability beginning May 27, 2013, is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current depression and his military service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The remaining issues of secondary service connection for various disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded it due to insufficient evidence. The case is being returned to the AOJ for a new VA examination and addendum opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD with secondary major depressive disorder, OCD, and panic disorder, is rated at 70 percent disabling. Service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension as secondary to service-connected disabilities has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied her claim for a TDIU.