Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's suicide was caused by a psychiatric disorder related to his active duty service. The AOJ is required to obtain such an opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and PTSD, is related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, but her symptoms have caused reduced reliability and productivity. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is reopened and granted as his current major depressive disorder with anxious distress is found to be secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,The request to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a head injury, now claimed as traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals, is denied. The evidence does not support that any right shoulder disability is related to a service-connected left upper extremity disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder. The VA will need to obtain a thorough opinion from an appropriate clinician addressing both causation and aggravation of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are related to multiple mental health diagnoses and his assertion of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for presumptive service connection for chronic rhinitis is granted, effective from the date of enactment of the PACT Act. The issues of service connection for TBI and skin disorders are remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee condition and service connection for hearing loss in both ears are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss is being remanded as he reported worsening symptoms and there was no right ear hearing loss diagnosed. A new examination is needed, considering his testimony of noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion addressing whether it is related to service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations considering his lay statements and secondary theories of entitlement.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral hip disability is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis found in a previous examination. A new opinion is needed regarding whether it is related to his back condition or aggravated by other conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations considering his lay statements and secondary theories of entitlement as raised at his hearing.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee condition is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis found in a previous examination. A new opinion is needed regarding whether it is related to his back condition or aggravated by other conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, while the lumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent. The TDIU claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD from January 2, 2020 to July 1, 2020 was denied as his disability rating is already at the maximum schedular rating (100%) and he does not meet the requirements for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and requires further remand for adequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's knee conditions and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and alcohol use disorder, is granted as related to service. His alcohol use disorder is also granted on secondary basis due to his service-connected coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and tinnitus.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at a maximum of 100 percent effective February 26, 2019. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to that date and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and persistent depressive disorder are found to have begun during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is part of his PTSD and does not result in a separate disability. His PTSD results in total occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran's PTSD warrants an initial rating of 100%.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) because the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to service, including any exposure to toxic exposures during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, are related to his service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, and persistent depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus. The low back disability claim was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, was granted effective March 24, 2016. The VA determined that the Veteran's condition manifested occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to readjudicate his previously denied service connection claims for depressive disorder, PTSD, and anxiety. The claims are now remanded for further review.