Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (Degenerative Joint Disease and Major Depressive Disorder) have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since November 12, 2013. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to unemployability on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and scheduling of a Decision Review Officer hearing. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities include schizophrenia, PTSD, and depression.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and information about employment status.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is found to be related to his service. The claim for PTSD remains pending and will need further development.

The appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The appeals for increased rating for anxiety and depression, service connection for low back disorder, knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient competent medical evidence to decide the claim, and a VA examination is needed to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied as there is no current disability of allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate disability is denied as there was not an in-service event, injury or disease.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates as to left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip arthritis, and right hip arthritis. The claims of entitlement to a higher rating for degenerative disc disease with IVDS from June 4, 2015 and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative disc disease with IVDS from August 1, 1974 to June 4, 2015 are REMANDED. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 12, 2016 is also REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the addition of new VA treatment records and examination findings that need to be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a rating for her lumbar spine disability, and a TDIU due to the need for additional development of evidence. The issues include obtaining an addendum opinion on the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and assessing her lumbar spine disability with associated neurological impairments.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a seizure disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected condition, finding that there was no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD or depression in the record.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not undergo an increase in severity during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and anxiety disorders, pre-existed service or were aggravated by military service. The VA examiner was asked to provide an opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and alcohol use disorder was granted a 50 percent disability rating from March 22, 2011 to October 26, 2022. A higher rating is denied after that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a psychiatric condition, including PTSD. The decision found that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure leading to current right ear hearing loss or any link between the Veteran's current mental health conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a timely Notice of Disagreement filed by the Veteran, and will now address service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected GAD and MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to January 4, 2022. The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability and the cause of death. The Veteran's claimed stressors are to be verified, as well as relevant medical records from September 2012. A VA medical opinion is needed to address the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service-connected conditions or other factors.