Depression Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is related to his military service. However, due to an aural hearing issue, the case is being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder, has been granted. The condition is found to be at least as likely as not related to his obstructive sleep apnea.,A higher rating of 20 percent for left extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) has been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankles. The remaining issues of increased rating for psychiatric disability, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee, and right knee are remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including verifying alleged in-service stressors that may support a claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the reduction in disability rating for depressive disorder from 50 percent to 30 percent was proper and denied the request to restore the 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal of her claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed as she requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, depression, and a lumbar spine disability have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and related insomnia disorder is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea was caused by his weight gain due to depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment and personnel records from the Veteran's National Guard service. The AOJ is required to obtain these records, including those pertaining to his service in the Georgia National Guard from 1982 to 1988.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-concussion syndrome/TBI is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied. The evidence does not support the need for a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has also been denied. The evidence shows that he is currently employed and unable to establish or maintain effective work relationships, but this alone is insufficient to deny TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, scars status post bladder cancer surgery, COPD, and hypertension. The issues of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further review due to insufficient reasons and bases provided in the September 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's attorney argues that the SSOC did not provide adequate discussion of the relevant evidence, allowing the Veteran an opportunity to present arguments before the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The VA is instructed to provide a comprehensive examination and determine the etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated at a separate 10 percent evaluation.,The Veteran's MDD associated with TBI is rated at a separate 70 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of April 20, 2012, for her service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder. The decision stated that the Veteran did not respond to multiple VA requests and calls regarding what condition or disability she was claiming in relation to sexual harassment, which led to the RO accepting her January 2013 statement as a claim of service connection for a mental condition.