Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's service records indicate he was stationed in Saudi Arabia during a time when his base came under attack from scud missiles.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with TBI is rated at 70 percent since September 23, 2013. The effective date for this rating remains pending as it was not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, along with other recurrent depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected. The claim is based on direct evidence from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding service connection for PTSD and MDD. The examiner's opinion is inadequate as it did not consider all potential marker evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, but his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that he does not have total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to service and is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease patellofemoral syndrome, right shoulder sprain, plantar fascitis, pes planus, and hallux valgus with degenerative changes.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability.,The Veteran's ED is granted as secondary to his service-connected depression and the medications used to treat it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and left knee condition) prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since he last worked full time in May 2016. The Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted since October 31, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reconsider his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The claim for service connection for hypertension remains denied as there is no new and relevant evidence received.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 26, 2018. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with secondary depression was granted, and the effective date is set at October 30, 2007.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have not been readjudicated due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder including generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder and phobic anxiety disorder, and sleep apnea are remanded as there is a duty to obtain additional medical opinions that address the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder are caused or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI is remanded due to procedural errors in determining his 'good health' based on his service-connected and non-service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, right hand numbness, a psychiatric disability (to include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and short term memory loss), and bilateral gout of the feet and knees have all been denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error related to untranslated Spanish records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The case is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error regarding verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by her obesity, which in turn is linked to her service-connected major depressive disorder. The Board has determined that the criteria for secondary service connection have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.