Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD. The decision also notes a duty to assist error due to the failure to obtain records relevant to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is not rated more than 30 percent, as the evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy is not rated more than 20 percent, as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating based on incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,Lumbosacral strain with IVDS and L4-L5 herniated intervertebral disc does not warrant an initial rating more than 10 percent due to combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees.

The Veteran's depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome is granted as secondary to his service-connected temporomandibular joint disorder, chronic right ankle sprain with Achilles tendonitis, chronic left ankle sprain with Achilles tendonitis, mild thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis, chondromalacia, left knee, and chondromalacia, right knee from August 8, 2018.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder. The symptoms more closely approximate those associated with a 70 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and persistent depressive disorder due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding nexus with claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety and depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including GAD, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and panic disorder. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded for a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating for this condition. The appeal has been denied as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder caused total occupational and social impairment from June 18, 2009 to September 14, 2021. The Board granted a 100% rating for this period.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD was restored from 50% to 70%. The reduction was found to be improper due to a failure to provide proper notice and the Veteran detrimentally relied on incorrect information provided by the VA.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for her psychiatric condition has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational or social impairment, despite having symptoms such as suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, erectile dysfunction, and right varicocele were denied. The Board found that an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder was granted with an effective date of June 11, 2013.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with Major Depression, but the Board denied this claim as there was no communication received by VA that can be construed as an informal or formal claim prior to December 7, 2012.,The Veteran also sought an earlier effective date for SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The Board denied this claim as there were no pending claims for increased ratings for PTSD prior to the January 24, 2020 submission of a VA Form 21-526EZ.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's symptoms do not warrant a 100 percent evaluation due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for MDD, tension headaches, and tinnitus. The lumbar spine disability claim is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to provide a VA examination and medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for depression, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and dry eyes, all potentially related to Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at the highest possible disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher. Other conditions are not rated as compensable.