Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's post traumatic headaches have been rated at 50 percent since July 11, 2016. The Board has found that the evidence supports a higher rating for this condition from November 4, 2014, to July 11, 2016. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities prior to October 24, 2011. The evidence showed she had been employed in various positions and could perform sedentary employment despite her disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and conflicting opinions. The issues of psychiatric disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and temporary total disability rating are all being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed stressor events and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran is encouraged to submit any documentation within his possession that may verify his contended stressors, including lay statements from fellow servicemembers.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia and dysthymia render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, with the exception of his current part-time substitute teaching job. The Board has granted a schedular TDIU effective August 29, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding no current diagnosis of such conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination for his service-connected psychiatric condition. Additionally, a supplemental medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his psychiatric and varicose vein disabilities, as well as the need to develop information about any claimed stressors. The Veteran is also being asked to provide more details on his reported stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and lung condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection. The Board finds that no earlier effective date can be granted as the increase in disability is not factually ascertainable within one year prior to the claim.,The Veteran also seeks earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims were previously denied but reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of major depressive disorder and schizophrenia for further examination and medical opinions to determine their etiology. The Veteran's claims are not about service connection, but rather about his current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric conditions and his military service. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examiner who must provide an opinion on whether any of these diagnoses are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that his current condition manifested during service or was related to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression and major depressive disorder, as secondary to his service-connected back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep and mood disorders. The positive and negative evidence is in approximate balance that his currently diagnosed PTSD was caused by his reported in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent prior to July 21, 2017 and denied for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added to the record. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis, vision loss, and headaches are now subject to further review by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including opinions on service connection for sleep disorder (insomnia), PTSD, MDD, adjustment disorder, and anxiety. The TDIU claim prior to July 29, 2021 is also being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was granted a 50 percent rating prior to September 22, 2017. The claim for higher ratings is denied.