Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. A separate 30 percent rating for depression as a manifestation of his service-connected conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a heart attack has been withdrawn.,A disability rating of 70 percent was granted from December 14, 2016 to February 28, 2020 for major depressive disorder with anxious distress. The appeal for a higher rating is denied from February 28, 2020 onwards.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of corroborating evidence for PTSD. The appellant is seeking service connection for a persistent depressive disorder, which was not previously considered.

The Veteran's posttraumatic migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective November 14, 2014. The Board also granted TDIU prior to July 27, 2016, due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions regarding notification of scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's initial rating for psychiatric disorder was denied prior to February 13, 2019. From February 13, 2019, a higher initial rating of 70 percent is granted.,TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder), and left ear hearing loss for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and PTSD. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, to include arthritis. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left shoulder strain, and psychiatric disability are remanded.

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

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, previously rated as persistent depressive disorder with melancholic features and now characterized as schizophrenia, is granted a 50 percent rating for the period before May 2, 2022.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed features of depression and anxiety is currently rated at 50 percent prior to December 18, 2018. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of evidence related to the Veteran's reported hospitalizations and purported diagnosis of bipolar disorder shortly after discharge from service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, needs to be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and unspecified generalized disorder, are related to his active military service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with mild neurocognitive disorder is currently rated at 50% prior to June 10, 2021. The Board has found that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and gouty arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it is not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and anxiety disorder may have worsened, and a remand is needed to determine the current severity of her conditions. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its interrelatedness with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records, including retrospective opinions from VA examiners regarding his depression and seizure disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations and needs further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected TBI.