Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety is rated at 70 percent prior to July 29, 2020. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral tinnitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, a heart condition, depression, and diabetes mellitus type II. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for rating reductions has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to verify the Veteran's reported stressors during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. A TDIU based on service-connected PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service stressors. The Board requests additional records from the NPRC and JSRRC to corroborate the Veteran's reports of exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but he receives a TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate. Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is found to be of sufficient severity to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, consistent with his history, education, skill, and training.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 8, 2014 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) on account of the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the increased rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders should be prior to February 14, 2019. However, due to a procedural error in determining whether new and material evidence was received within one year of the January 2019 rating decision, the case is being remanded.

Entitlement to an effective date earlier than February 6, 2014 for tension headaches as secondary to service-connected tinnitus is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than December 19, 2011 for depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was raised as part of his initial rating claim for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder. The effective date for the grant of a TDIU is set at December 27, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of evidence linking his current diagnoses to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran is also being asked to provide releases for any correctional facilities where he was incarcerated, as these records may contain relevant information.

The Veteran's service connection for prostate cancer is denied, and his rating in excess of 50 percent for depressive disorder is also denied. However, the Veteran was granted compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, and a right middle finger condition due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified mood disorder).

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected depressive disorder and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher than 50% rating for the depressive disorder, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting possible service connection, and for a VA psychiatric examination to confirm diagnoses and determine etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive symptoms, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck pain, headaches, depression, left arm pain, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to address these claims.