Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and a psychiatric disorder, including chronic PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to provide a proper opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection of neck disability, psychiatric disorder, hysterectomy, and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete service treatment records and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's in-service stressors need further clarification, and a new opinion is required.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for an increased rating for PTSD, previously rated as unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to the listed conditions and issues, effectively dismissing them.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear information about the Veteran's service status, specifically whether his Air National Guard service from April 1990 to March 2000 was full-time duty under Title 10 or state-controlled service. The AOJ needs to verify this and provide an administrative decision.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The psychiatric disorders are remanded for further examination and determination of their etiology.

Your claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder has been fully granted by the VA Regional Office in October 2021, so your appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears with degenerative arthritis.,The Board has also granted service connection for these conditions on a causation basis.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD, depression, GAD, and unspecified mood disorder. The VA examiner was asked to determine if these conditions are linked to heat exhaustion during active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to insufficient information about her employment status during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with MDD is granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service sexual assault, and her MDD is aggravated by her PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, MDD, bilateral iritis, and left eye atrophic hole have been granted. The claim for an eye disorder other than the aforementioned conditions is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of his psychiatric disorders and whether pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of TDIU and increased rating for MDD. The AOJ must consider all relevant evidence, including any new VA treatment records and the Veteran's submitted application for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's MDD, PTSD with alcohol use disorder in remission and opioid use disorder in remission, and TDIU claims. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressor and inadequate VA examinations. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with residuals of a TBI is rated at 70 percent since August 28, 2009. The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the period prior to April 18, 2023. However, the case remains in appellate status as the Veteran seeks a higher rating. The Board also remanded three issues: entitlement to a separate compensable rating for residuals of TBI, entitlement to a TDIU, and clarification of the Veteran's occupational history.