Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and major depression disorder, rendered him unemployable during the period from March 8, 2010 to October 14, 2012. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of August 19, 2013, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder is denied. The symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased disability rating and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for TBI, as his cognitive impairment was rated at 10 percent. His hearing loss disability is also rated at 10 percent. Service connection for right and left knee disabilities, lumbar strain, and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance were all remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion considering the Veteran's lay reports of depression symptoms in service and post-service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims in a written correspondence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right foot or ankle condition, chronic left wrist condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine condition, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine condition. A 50 percent rating is assigned for migraines since December 17, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and the appellant's request for a third-party examination. The VA examiner must provide an addendum opinion regarding the service connection claim, including opinions on personality disorders and aggravation by sexual assault.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities (bilateral knees and lumbar spine), or due to the circumstances of his discharge from service because of injury.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service or service-connected TBI. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder are related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder is granted a 100% disability rating throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD, Headache Syndrome, Depressive Disorder, and Left Shoulder Post-Operative Tendon Tear with Degenerative Joint Disease are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The effective date for these grants is January 29, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination that addresses recent treatment records and GAF scores.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and a TDIU is granted from October 4, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hip condition is remanded. The appeal is granted to grant an initial 50 percent rating, but no higher, for major depressive disorder with persistent depressive disorder prior to December 20, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was granted, with an effective date of August 1, 2011. The rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective October 23, 2017.