Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has found that the remand directives have not been substantially accomplished and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, left knee, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and further development is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's CAD is granted a 100% rating effective September 15, 2015. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is mooted as part of the CAD claim. SMC at the housebound level is granted starting from January 3, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for depression, finding that the evidence did not support a claim of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for TDIU and SMC due to outstanding private medical records that need to be obtained. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for central disc herniation at the L4-L5 level, persistent depressive disorder, and GERD have been reopened. However, the original decisions denying these conditions remain unchanged as there is no established causal link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right thumb degenerative joint disease is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, joint and muscle pain, a disability manifested by memory loss, depression, and anxiety, dizziness, left knee disability, right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified neurosis is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a comprehensive mental health examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral arm numbness, back disorder, and psychiatric disorders due to potential issues with the opinions provided. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and a TDIU due to service-connected major depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for a low back disability is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, and asthma due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting findings regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and drug abuse disorder. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and the issue is dismissed as there are no further allegations of error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate due to a lack of factual housebound status and inability to secure substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, jammed left shoulder, chronic right elbow disability, chronic left elbow disability, chronic right knee disability, chronic left knee disability, and unspecified joint disease. These claims are now remanded to allow for further development.,The Board also dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for diverticulitis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of a VA examination linking his current condition to service.