Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's depressive disorder with major depressive episode associated with chronic pain is granted effective April 29, 2019. The rating assigned is 70 percent disabling.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and duty-to-assist errors. The appellant's character of discharge from service is being reconsidered, as are his PTSD claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with a more comprehensive examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to verify an in-service stressor event, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder, are related to his service. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including diagnoses of major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, was denied. The effective date for the 70% rating is set at April 22, 2021.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's hypertension and major depressive disorder have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent and 70 percent, respectively. The effective dates for these ratings are not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any identified psychiatric disabilities are related to service or are aggravated by diabetes mellitus and other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder due to incomplete VA examination. The Veteran should be provided with another examination addressing the etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma, finding that her current condition is at least as likely as not related to this event. The decision also notes that the in-service records are unavailable and does not rule out a military sexual assault.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for the Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, finding that it most nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating for acquired psychiatric disorders other than his already service-connected PTSD is denied. The Board found that the symptoms of these conditions are encompassed within his existing PTSD rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70% or higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that the sleep apnea is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to properly develop the record regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and his current psychiatric disorders. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, including his claimed stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder caused him to become obese, which in turn led to his obstructive sleep apnea. The Board finds that the necessary factors for obesity being an intermediate step between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected major depressive disorder are met, granting service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective May 21, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities, including insomnia disorder with comorbid major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, were evaluated as not severe enough to warrant a higher rating from March 13, 2018, to December 6, 2020. From December 7, 2020, the Veteran's disabilities did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating.