Depression decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 50 percent and the Board has found that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected MDD with anxious distress caused or aggravated his OSA. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 13, 2016 for the award of service connection for PTSD with a 50% rating. The Veteran's claim was reopened and his previously denied claims were remanded multiple times before he was diagnosed with PTSD in May 2020.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was granted in a July 2021 rating decision, but the effective date is denied as it cannot be earlier than February 23, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD with recurrent, moderate MDD with anxious distress is denied as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment prior to January 12, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been dismissed as the cases are moot due to prior grants of benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU. The Board has remanded the matter to the VA's Director of Compensation Service for consideration of a TDIU pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted a 100% disability rating from May 30, 2015.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 28, 2019 for a 70 percent disability evaluation for service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder (previously evaluated as unspecified depressive disorder), anxiety disorder, PTSD and all nervous and/or emotional conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The May 2020 VA examination corroborated the in-service stressors and found that both contributed to the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of proposed reductions in ratings for major depressive disorder without psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, and migraine headaches as they are not final rating actions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed depression. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran is granted a higher rate of special monthly compensation (SMC) due to his service-connected psychiatric disability and physical disabilities, resulting in the need for regular aid and attendance from another person.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 7, 2012, finding that her service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for TDIU during this period.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to May 13, 2020, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (acquired psychiatric disorder). The decision found that the March 2019 rating decision was not properly appealed within one year, making it final. Therefore, the effective date is set at May 13, 2020, which is when the supplemental claim was received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions, particularly in relation to Gulf War toxic exposures.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for MDD with anxious distress was denied. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of his left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities at the time of January 2019 VA examinations.