Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for diabetes mellitus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome of the bilateral lower extremities are reopened. The Board will remand these issues to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection.,The claim for erectile dysfunction is also remanded due to its inextricability with the psychiatric disorder issue.,The Veteran's appeal for diabetes mellitus is dismissed, and his claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are reopened. The Board will remand these issues to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate previous VA opinions and failure to comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is being reviewed for service connection, as well as his nonservice-connected pension benefits claim.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including consideration of new evidence received prior to certification of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation from August 25, 2015 to January 16, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been denied. The evidence does not show the Veteran meets the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for unspecified depressive disorder was denied, and the Board remanded the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, as there was no evidence of a confirmed in-service stressor or any chronic disease related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clinical findings regarding whether the appellant's conditions are neurobehavioral effects and if they resulted from her residence at Camp Lejeune. The appellant is seeking reimbursement for non-VA medical care related to female infertility and neurobehavioral effects.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran is asked to provide records of his mental health treatment during incarceration in Georgia and from a private physician. In-service stressor verification is also needed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for Major Depressive Disorder was denied, and the claim for TDIU between October 12, 2018 and April 2, 2019 is remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, with cognitive impairment and sleep disturbances, are now rated at 70 percent effective March 29, 2023. Special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance is also granted from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient development, including the need for VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for asthma with an effective date of August 15, 2013. Service connection was also granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but the specific effective dates are not provided as they were not addressed in this decision. The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is characterized by occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, chronic sleep impairment, and difficulty establishing work relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder did not begin during service and are not related to an in-service injury or disease, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's IBS is secondary to his service-connected Depressive Disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder traumatic arthritis, right wrist traumatic arthritis, and right ankle traumatic arthritis. The decision finds that the Veteran's depressive disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is related to his active military service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating for the listed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, due to military sexual trauma. The AOJ is instructed to obtain the Veteran's complete Army National Guard service personnel records from all sources possible.