Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, is related to sexual assault in service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been granted a 70% disability rating for the initial rating period prior to January 15, 2016. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition and left hip pain, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right hip disability. Service connection for depressive disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol/cannabis abuse is rated at the highest possible level (100%). The denial of a higher rating for fibromyalgia and the grant of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance are noted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than depression, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD incurred in or related to active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, and headaches are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,An effective date prior to March 9, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a rating in excess of 50 percent, finding no evidence indicating that the Veteran filed a claim prior to January 27, 2012. The Board also found insufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating based on the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder was denied. The effective date of the grant is set at November 4, 2009.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service, and he is granted service connection for these conditions.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus between the condition and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for a depressive disorder is granted, effective from the date his intent to file a claim was received (September 13, 2017).

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, anxiety, depressive disorder, and a sleep disorder is granted. The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, compensable rating for chronic right inguinal ligament and chronic right hamstring strain, and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and duodenal ulcer with gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's headache disability and erectile dysfunction are both granted as secondary to medications used to treat his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since March 1, 2022. The rating is based on the severity of his psychiatric symptoms that cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of December 19, 2003 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder. The Board found that this claim was raised in a notice of disagreement filed on December 19, 2003.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the reopening of a previously denied claim for gastrointestinal disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, schizophrenia, and dysthymia, due to the Appellant's failure to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's major depression is currently rated at 50 percent from April 14, 2010, to January 11, 2021. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met during this period.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.