Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands and inadequate examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a DRO hearing.

The appeal for service connection of a mental health condition, including depression, is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee pain and dysfunction, low back pain and dysfunction, left wrist pain and dysfunction, PTSD, and MDD. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ankle sprain was dismissed. Service connection for MDD and PTSD was granted, but service connection for lumbosacral strain was denied.

The Board has found that a remand is warranted to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain additional information from the Veteran concerning his stressors and in-service injuries. A VA examination will be scheduled for the Veteran to determine if any of his claimed psychiatric disabilities had their onset during service or are otherwise etiologically related to such service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional medical opinions on whether the Veteran's psychiatric conditions are related to his military service and/or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, and his TDIU claim is denied as he has sufficient income from his own business to avoid being considered unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, right upper extremity numbness, left upper extremity numbness, and obstructive sleep apnea (based on secondary aggravation) due to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder. The issue of an increased rating for depressive disorder with anxiety prior to May 7, 2020 is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, personality disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder, has been granted.,A 10 percent evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities prior to March 23, 2023, is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining 18 years of age, finding that the evidence did not support such a determination.

The Veteran's period of service from June 2002 to July 2005 is considered dishonorable due to a serious offense, resulting in an OTH discharge. The appeal for PTSD and anxiety/depression service connection has been denied.,There was no removal of the bar to VA benefits via an upgrade to the Veteran's character of discharge or evidence showing he was insane at the time of his offenses.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder has been rated at 70 percent disabling, effective May 21, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and bilateral foot injuries with arthritis, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since May 28, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received since the last decision, including VA treatment records and examination reports. The AOJ should review all of this evidence before readjudicating the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives, including scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and its relationship to his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

The Veteran is seeking service connection for depression secondary to his service-connected right inguinal hernia repair. However, he failed to report to the scheduled VA examination and did not receive proper notification of the examination.,The Veteran's attorney requested a rescheduling of the mental disorders examination in February 2019, but it is unclear if the Veteran received proper notice.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for several service-connected conditions, including skin condition, flat feet, GERD, left knee condition, left wrist condition, and left wrist scar. The Veteran's fibromyalgia and hypertension were granted service connection.,Several issues are remanded for further review, including initial ratings for various disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The examiner must determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically related to in-service personal assault and sexual contact.