Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder is granted, and the Board finds that his erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings and earlier effective date for sleep apnea was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to November 4, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Adjustment disorder, Major depressive disorder, and Generalized anxiety disorder have been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's psychiatric disability claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety due to the need for further verification of stressor events and additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: PTSD with major depression, bipolar disorder, left knee condition, and kidney condition. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors, clarify whether he has a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, obtain VA treatment records, and provide an opinion on the relationship between his service and these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or on account of being housebound is denied. The Board found that he does not meet the criteria for SMC at either the aid and attendance rate or the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted, and he is now rated at 70 percent. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 28, 2016 to February 27, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depressive disorder. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress and generalized anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service.,The Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his military service.,The Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and the need to verify in-service stressors related to PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is related to his military service in the Gulf War. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's hypertension has been rated noncompensably disabling (0%) and the Board does not find any basis to grant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, low back pain and dysfunction, right knee pain and dysfunction, and depressive disorder due to another medical condition. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, requiring a new VA examination to determine the nature and severity of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for autism disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to provide a VA examination. The Veteran contends that his conditions were present prior to service and aggravated therein.