Depression decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, anxiety with other mental health disorders, and depression due to the lack of current diagnoses or symptomatology in the medical records.

The Veteran's rating for his psychiatric disability was reduced from 70% to 30%, but the reduction was found improper and the original 70% rating is restored.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar strain, and depression. The Board found that it is at least as likely as not that these conditions were caused by the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder were granted a 70 percent rating from September 21, 2012 to January 6, 2015.,From January 6, 2015, the Veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from the date of her April 30, 2022 claim. The ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease remain denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are commensurate with a 100 percent rating from August 15, 2022. The Board finds an initial rating of 100 percent is warranted for the service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and service connection for cause of death. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of February 2, 2014, for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeal regarding a higher initial rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder and chronic pain syndrome with depressive like episodes was granted, effective January 13, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since March 18, 2020. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for Major Depressive Disorder prior to October 7, 2019 and TDIU prior to that date was denied. The evidence did not support the need for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher staged initial ratings for acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee limitation of extension with degenerative joint disease, meniscal tear, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and scar, right knee limitation of extension with degenerative joint disease, meniscal tear, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and scar, and entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, and unspecified depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA medical examination and obtain relevant Social Security Administration records, as these are necessary for proper adjudication of the service connection claim.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for major depressive disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records and determine if the Veteran is eligible for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 10 percent for back strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and hemorrhoids are not supported by the evidence. The claim for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 50 percent, which is the highest under the applicable criteria. Service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied.

The Veteran's MDD with anxious distress has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent. The case is remanded for further review.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for depression and PTSD, which were previously denied. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.