Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's military records and lack of verification for his claimed service. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, but the evidence does not support a finding that he was injured during combat or while serving with friendly forces.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder with depressive disorder, is rated at a maximum of 50 percent from February 21, 2013, to March 31, 2016, and at a maximum of 70 percent from April 15, 2016, to April 19, 2023.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for fibrocystic disease of the right breast, a heart disorder (including mitral valve prolapse), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression). The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service. The original decision denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded issues of depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% from August 16, 2016 to July 8, 2018. DEA benefits are granted for this period. The TDIU issue is dismissed as moot due to the concurrent grant of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that her current psychiatric conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to in-service military sexual trauma.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and right shoulder impingement syndrome. The VA will obtain any relevant Vet Center records and schedule the Veteran for a comprehensive examination to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his previously denied claim for service connection. The VA will readjudicate these claims, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, PTSD, and depressive disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries or diseases.

The Board has remanded nine issues related to service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis. The Veteran's in-service stressors include exposure to the noise of cannon fire and guard duty.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, cognitive disorder, constipation, anosmia, urinary disorders, erectile dysfunction, neurological disorders of the extremities, orthostatic hypotension, and sleep disorder are all granted as related to service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective July 31, 2018. The symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA psychiatric examination, which is necessary for an accurate determination of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder alone precludes her from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and she is granted a TDIU rating. Additionally, the Veteran is granted SMC based on housebound status due to her other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was increased from a 10% to a 30% disability rating in December 2020, and the appellant is eligible for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded due to this decision.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to November 13, 2019 is being remanded due to a failure to consider the extraschedular criteria.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and generalized anxiety disorder. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to military sexual trauma experienced during service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the reduction in disability rating for major depressive disorder from 70 percent to 50 percent as premature and moot.

The Veteran's appeal to revise the June 2007 and April 2011 rating decisions was denied. The June 2007 decision did not grant service connection for prostate cancer, while the April 2011 decision did not award SMC at the housebound rate due to multiple service-connected disabilities.