Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of PTSD, major depressive disorder, headaches, and TBI did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to March 7, 2017.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are both established. The Veteran also has service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Right shoulder disability, right heel spur, and right knee condition (secondary) have been granted.,Service connection for a right knee condition remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disability, an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, MDD, and Schizoid personality disorder, and a bilateral shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during active duty or were related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale in previous medical opinions and insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is found to be related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.,ED secondary to the now service-connected depressive disorder is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions and further development is needed. The Veteran's OSA may be service connected as aggravated by his service-connected disabilities and/or medications.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to incomplete examination reports and incorrect application of the presumption of soundness.

The Board has remanded the claims for cataracts, thyroid disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for dose assessment of radiation exposure. The Veteran's service personnel records indicate he participated in Operation Ivy, which may have exposed him to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and depression, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right foot scars, as well as a higher rating for depression prior to June 14, 2006, are being remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for increased rating for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) and coronary artery disease with angina. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically his anxiety and nightmares related to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, effective from December 14, 2007, to January 28, 2021. The appeal was not about service connection but rather the appropriate disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, to his active-duty service. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and ischemic heart disease. The issues of secondary service connection for anosmia, ageusia, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent rating from April 19, 2019 to November 8, 2022. A rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 19, 2019 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and he is assigned a 100% rating. The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, specifically unspecified depressive disorder, is related to his service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorders, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2017 VA examination. The examiner did not provide sufficient rationale or address all issues raised in the case.