Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those for an acquired psychiatric disability, insomnia, sleep apnea, migraines, GERD, and dizziness. The issues of allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, non-allergic rhinitis, IBS, and tension headaches have been granted. The rating for the unspecified depressive disorder is 50 percent, while the ratings for non-allergic rhinitis (presumptive), IBS (presumptive), and tension headaches are each 10 percent.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, claimed as an acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD and depression, started in service and has continued since then. The Board finds that the evidence supports granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service-connected conditions, but an additional VA examination is needed to address whether the condition is aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for depression, left foot cold injury residuals, right foot cold injury residuals, lower back condition, and neck condition as secondary to a low back condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The appeal for an effective date prior to September 7, 2016, for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed.,The appeal for a rating greater than 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's current level of occupational and social impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for his unspecified depressive disorder prior to February 5, 2019 is granted. The Veteran was initially assigned a 30 percent rating with an effective date of September 21, 2016, which is the date in which his claim was received.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted effective September 3, 2019. The Board denied an earlier effective date as the submission of the September 3, 2019 VA Form 21-8940 did not constitute new and relevant evidence or show continuous pursuit of the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for the low back disability.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance was not due to her service-connected disabilities, but rather the effects of her non-service-connected terminal metastatic colon cancer. The Board denied the claim for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for an increased rating of PTSD and MDD, which was dismissed by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, GAD, and alcohol and cannabis use disorders is granted prior to October 21, 2023. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his service noise exposure.,The Veteran's DM II was not incurred in service.,The Veteran's left foot hallux valgus (post-surgery left foot bunionectomy residuals) was not incurred in service.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and problems sleeping.,The Veteran's lower back pain was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with TBI is granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective prior to July 18, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to make further requests and attempts to verify the Veteran's alleged in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to July 6, 2022, for service connection of major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board granted an effective date of July 1, 2012 for the grant of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) due to new service treatment records showing depression as a contributing factor to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety condition and depression) have been dismissed. The claim for migraines was granted in a previous decision, resulting in a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants an initial 70 percent disability rating effective June 18, 2018. The Board finds the evidence of record more closely approximates symptomatology supportive of a 70 percent rating from the date of service connection.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her pre-existing condition was aggravated by military sexual trauma (MST) during active duty.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding an earlier effective date for PTSD with depression, finding that the Veteran's claim was not timely and denied his request.