Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's pre-existing depressive symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service stressors will be considered during the examination process.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's low back, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's psychiatric condition (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder) and hypertension are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider all evidence of record for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the relationship between his OSA, obesity, and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's restless leg syndrome, including whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart condition, and hypertension due to new evidence submitted since the August 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's stressor statement provided in March 2020 was considered, along with VA treatment records and a VA examination, which supported reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent from March 22, 2023. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder (also claimed as PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety) was denied. The claim for a compensable rating for status post left varicocele ligation was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The issues of diabetes mellitus, bilateral kidney disability, and depression are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the other issues due to incomplete evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination for service connection claims, specifically for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder was granted, and he is now receiving a 100% rating for this condition since April 22, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia have been readjudicated due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for both conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder, as well as vertigo, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD and TDIU were granted with a 70 percent disability rating effective June 19, 2020.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder are inadequate, and therefore remanded for further clarification and corroboration of in-service stressors. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's left eye disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including Unspecified Depressive Disorder, Somatic Disorder, Unspecified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder, and Other Specified Trauma and Related Disorder, is granted as secondary to her service-connected bilateral tibia stress fractures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with lumbosacral spondylosis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.