Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected left hip, low back, and left lower extremity disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance moots his claim for housebound status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to provide an examination and/or opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's complete SSA records, including all underlying medical records, should be obtained.

The Board has restored service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, vascular neurocognitive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, effective November 1, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to untimely filing of VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's service connection claims for other specified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are granted as they are found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and MDD. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to military service, including fear of deployment and a reported personal assault during service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has denied the claim itself. The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder that is related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to procedural errors and the need for a new VA examination. The appellant's back disability is potentially related to service, but the exact etiology needs clarification. His acquired psychiatric disorder may also be related to his back disability.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), has been rated at 30 percent. The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded to verify a claimed stressor event.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was granted service connection due to exposure risk activities during his military service. Service connection for a concussion and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied, as the evidence did not support these claims. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder received increased ratings up until May 20, 2019, when he was granted a 70% disability rating. Other service connection requests were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. The Veteran's depression is granted an initial rating of 100 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The issues regarding right knee disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than March 19, 1999, for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder due to a lack of evidence showing any prior claims for benefits related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities contributed to his cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear military stressor and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for bipolar disorder II with generalized anxiety disorder and lumbar spine early degenerative joint disease and early arthritis, and TDIU due to complex mental health disabilities and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a sleep disability, a lumbar spine disability, and a migraine disability due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of adequate rationale in the previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide an adequate VA examination, and thus cannot make a decision on whether the Veteran's depression is related to his active-duty service.