Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with major depression was found to be a contributory cause of death, thus granting entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The tic disorder claim is denied, as there is no current diagnosis of a tic disorder. The right shoulder strain and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress with intermittent major depressive episodes claims are denied due to lack of evidence showing an increase in severity within one year prior to the receipt of his claims.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's stressors and schedule him for a VA examination. The appeal will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction has been granted. The Board found that the onset of his psychiatric disorder coincided with his active duty service, and thus granted service connection. Service connection was also granted for erectile dysfunction, but the issue is remanded due to lack of an opinion regarding its relationship to his psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for major depression and has determined that it was incurred during service. The Veteran's statements and VA examiner's opinion support this finding.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to establish service connection for PTSD and differentiate it from depressive disorder. The Veteran's stressors are also being investigated.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and ordered VA examinations to evaluate his psychiatric disabilities (including depression and anxiety) and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a mental health condition is dismissed. The Board also remanded the claims for an earlier effective date and initial compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of private treatment records and concerns about the qualifications of the VA examiner who conducted the November 2019 examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and bipolar disorder per history, is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for depression and PTSD, finding no new and material evidence that would support reopening these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The VA examiner is required to provide etiology opinions based on a thorough review of the claims file.

The Board denied entitlement to earlier effective dates for service connection of a psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, as the earliest correspondence received by VA was on July 26, 2006.,The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his obstructive sleep apnea was also denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection was received on August 4, 1997. The Board finds that the effective date of August 4, 1997 is correct and denies the request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder. The examiner must address the Veteran's lay statements in support of his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for his depressive disorder and for TDIU have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn their appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on needing aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has decided that the VA's decision on right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) needs to be reconsidered due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete verification of stressor events.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of basal cell carcinoma has been granted. However, her claims for loss of vision in the right eye and depression secondary to this condition have not been resolved due to a duty to assist error.,The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to her service-connected residuals of basal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 100% effective January 1, 2018. The Board granted an increased rating based on the evidence showing total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating adequately reflects his disability level. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.