Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, finding it is related to the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability. Service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury was denied as there is no probative evidence of an in-service TBI.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted an initial 70 percent rating for the period prior to April 11, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and potential duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, paranoid type schizophrenia, and depression are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board will consider all evidence of record in its decision.

The Veteran's PTSD was reduced from a 100% evaluation to a 70% evaluation effective November 1, 2021.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted in May 2018 and remains unchanged.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas throughout the initial rating period beginning November 19, 2020. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD and MDD effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any currently-diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran is presumed competent to report his symptoms.

The Veteran is granted TDIU for periods from May 11, 2011 to November 23, 2020 due to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate examinations and pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The cases will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are adequately contemplated by the current 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder (also claiming other specific depressive disorder), muscle joint pain of the right knee, gastric ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headaches, respiratory insufficiency, restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and right hip strain. The decision is based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Raynaud's disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will readjudicate these claims, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder. The issues of secondary service connection are also being addressed.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) is granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder; a vision disorder; and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU rating due to lack of evidence indicating unemployability prior to February 10, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination and notification regarding in-service personal assault stressors. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, is being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for ED secondary to depressive disorder.