Depression decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, insomnia, and anxiety, has been reopened due to new evidence. The Board finds that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD from May 24, 2012 and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include schizophrenia and depression.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarification and additional development regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, particularly his PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has restored a 100% rating for the Veteran's PTSD with depression and alcohol abuse, effective April 1, 2018, as the evidence did not show improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of allegations of errors of fact or law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, hypertension, IBS, and depression. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service events.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to January 26, 2022 and denied for a higher rating since that date.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 18, 2008 for the 70 percent evaluation for anxiety and depression disorder. The Veteran's mental health symptoms included near-continuous depressed mood and anxiety affecting his ability to function independently, appropriate, and effectively; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response; impaired impulse control, irritability with angry outbursts with little to no provocation, social isolation, suicidal ideation, chronic sleep impairment, and inability establishing and maintaining effective relationships. The Board found the Veteran's symptoms did not meet criteria for a 100 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, which considers symptoms such as depressed mood and anxiety. The Board found that these symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, are granted as service connected due to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings have been dismissed.,A disability rating of 50 percent, but no higher, has been granted for PTSD with depression and alcohol abuse prior to January 7, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, and hypertension due to potential in-service personal assault. The Veteran's claim will be further developed to verify the stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as it is related to an inservice personal assault.

The claim for service connection of IBS has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection of PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, depression, GAD, anxiety, and TMJ are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and for an increased rating for a skin disability due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. The claim for an increased rating for MDD is denied due to failure to appear at a scheduled VA examination without good cause. The cases are remanded for further examinations and opinions regarding aid and attendance, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 26, 2011 for the award of service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding CUE in a 1994 rating decision, entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depression. However, the case is remanded as new evidence does not establish a link between the claimed conditions and active duty service.