Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective June 1, 2021. The Veteran's symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has been reopened. Service connection is granted for tinnitus and RLE radiculopathy effective May 25, 2016. The claims for right-hand, left-hand disabilities, and bilateral hand conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been presented, but the appeal is not granted as the claim remains pending. The issues of service connection for depression, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder), tinnitus, left hallux valgus, and right shin splints are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed. The claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted, but the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence. The claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for a left knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining addendum VA medical opinions and reviewing all relevant records.

The Veteran's claims for headaches and unspecified depressive disorder were granted. The right knee condition, lumbar spine condition, and sciatic nerve involvement are all now rated appropriately.

The Veteran's Persistent Depressive Disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective January 16, 2018. A TDIU is granted as of February 19, 2022. The claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and remanded the issue of service connection for cellulitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service.

The appeal regarding compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right knee surgery residuals is dismissed, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder and depression, claimed as PTSD. The evidence received since the last final denial supports a finding that these conditions are related to military service at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and service connection claims. The hearing loss rating is denied, the peripheral vestibular disorder rating remains at 10 percent, and the MDD and TBI residuals are rated at 50 percent. Service connection requests for carpal tunnel syndrome, upper extremity neuropathy, and lower extremity neuropathy were also not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's depression disorder, which is currently service-connected. The Veteran seeks separate service connection for depression secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory disorder have also been reopened and remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's PTSD and MDD, as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, thus denying a higher rating.

The Veteran's MDD with GAD is rated at 50 percent effective February 5, 2019.