Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for depression, anxiety, and OSA due to a failure to obtain VA examinations. Service connection for tinnitus remains denied.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is granted as service connected, with no specific exposure basis provided and no rating assigned.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is not rated compensably, and his anxiety disorder and other specified recurrent depressive disorder are not rated higher than 70 percent. The claims for service connection of GERD and ED are remanded.

The Board has found that new evidence supports readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The claims for an increased rating for MDD, service connection for pre-syncope and/or syncope (secondary to MDD), and TDIU are also remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and chronic pain disorder as secondary to her service-connected disabilities of the knee, ankle, and finger.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder was denied, as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Veteran's depression is being remanded for further examination and opinion as the current VA examination did not adequately address his service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee disability, herpes, migraines, depression, anxiety, and PTSD due to a failure to obtain VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, as well as sleep apnea secondary to his psychiatric disorders. The AOJ is required to attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressor and obtain all of his service treatment records, including those from Adak, Alaska in 1984. Additionally, a VA examination must be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence shows the condition had its onset during service and is recurrent since then.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and failing to provide a VA examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD, are being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's in-service stressor event was not verified, and thus service connection for PTSD could not be established. The case is being remanded to schedule a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for depression and anxiety is denied as there are no current diagnoses of these conditions. The Veteran's right hand and left hand disabilities are also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and right ankle disability due to new evidence and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, previously rated at 50 percent, is now granted a rating of 70 percent effective November 21, 2017.,Service connection for a back disability is remanded due to lack of compliance with the Board's previous directives.,The Veteran's GERD remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, was received on September 5, 2013. The Board granted this claim with an effective date of September 5, 2013.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus were granted service connection, with a rating of 100% for the former from May 9, 2017 to September 21, 2020. The effective dates for these conditions are not established as requested by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date of service connection for tinnitus prior to April 25, 2017 and for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate etiological opinions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is being reviewed for service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.