Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for an examination. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and schedule him for a VA examination to address his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and increased rating for major depression has been withdrawn by the appellant or his representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as antisocial personality, depression, and/or PTSD) and a right knee disability (laceration and surgery of the right knee) have been granted. However, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim, which included an increased rating for depressive disorder, was granted effective April 25, 2011. The appellant is eligible to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the August 2014 rating decision.

Service connection is granted for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for unspecified depressive disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle degenerative arthritis, right knee osteoarthritis status post total replacement, left knee osteoarthritis status post meniscal tear repair, right hip degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear status post total replacement, left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, right lateral epicondylitis, left lateral epicondylitis, neck pain, lumbar spine DJD, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy.,Service connection is denied for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and hypertensive heart disease.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, specifically depression, finding that the Veteran's current depressive symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral eye condition and depression due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches were denied service connection as they are not found to be secondary to his service-connected conditions.,An effective date earlier than July 25, 2016, for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is also denied.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder and Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder are etiologically related to service, and the claim for these conditions is granted. The left shoulder condition claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). A VA psychiatric examination is needed, and development of the Veteran's employment history should be pursued.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer with urinary incontinence, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to military sexual trauma. The Veteran's history of homelessness and mental health issues necessitates further development before a VA medical opinion can be obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient detail in the previous VA examinations regarding whether a current psychiatric disorder is linked to an in-service incident. The Veteran needs another examination to address this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The neck condition, vascular disease of both legs, and PTSD claims were denied due to lack of a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder of depression is due to events he experienced during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.,All other claims, including those for back disability, left ear hearing loss, depression (secondary to service-connected disabilities), left hand and right hand disabilities, sleep apnea (undiagnosed illness and/or medically unexplained chronic multi symptom illness due to exposure to environmental hazards during the Persian Gulf War) and secondary to service-connected disabilities, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied.