Depression decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder, depression, and PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence of a stressor related to his active-duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, as there is no current diagnosis of a mental health condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that his current mental health problems are due to military sexual trauma (MST) he endured during service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder unspecified) based on new evidence received since the final denial of these claims in February 2016. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination regarding the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD and MDD was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and MDD was also denied. The AOJ found no new and material evidence to support reopening the claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU for both periods prior to March 31, 2017 and from March 31, 2017.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, rectal polyps, lipoma, and melanoma have been granted. The decision on the issue of service connection for PTSD is based on a secondary theory, meaning it was linked to an already service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability, low back disability, headaches, and stroke. The TDIU claim will also be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for HIV, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and nodes on testicles due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple sclerosis, major depressive disorder, right upper and lower extremity incomplete nerve paralysis have been granted.,Special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance has also been raised in the current appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine condition and TDIU prior to February 10, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability warranting a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder is remanded. The appeal for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records from systems not accessible by the Board. The issues of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a TDIU are all being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service boat accident and treatment records. The Veteran is still seeking service connection for PTSD and an unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's initial rating for MDD is denied, and the spine disability claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is rated at 100 percent effective January 25, 2018.