Depression decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, insomnia, and memory loss, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have been granted service connection. The left knee disability and left shoulder strain are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in this case is inadequate and requires further development. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be remanded to allow for additional evidence collection and a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including an unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD, are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding private treatment records and VA treatment records that need to be obtained, as well as a VA examination for the Veteran's hearing loss, skin disorder, GERD, and hiatal hernia. The claims for service connection will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a VA examination for an incarcerated veteran. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is now pending and will be reviewed with a new VA opinion.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, headaches, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been granted. A TDIU has also been granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability, and whether any service-connected psychiatric disorder contributed to his substance abuse disorder or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct, is related to his active service.

The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and sinusitis prior to June 3, 2020, finding that his disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, right and left knee conditions, hip and ankle arthritis, tinnitus, and other impairments, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's major depressive, anxiety, and somatoform disorders are found to be due to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examination and requested documentation. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including delusional disorder and depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiners regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on causation, aggravation, obesity, and whether a service-connected disability caused or aggravated obesity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records, need for new VA examinations, and consideration of the low back disability as secondary to service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence provided by the Veteran. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and clarifying information about in-service incidents.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for melanoma, removal of uterus and both ovaries, genital herpes, PTSD due to military sexual trauma, anxiety, and depression have been dismissed.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) has not been established.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with associated anxiety, and in excess of 10 percent for left and right leg patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the September 2022 remand directives and another remand is required for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with insomnia. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.