Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective November 4, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for service connection as defined by VA regulations.,Regarding type II diabetes mellitus, there is no evidence of its presence within one year after separation from service and continuity of symptomatology is not established.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder to include bipolar disorder with an effective date of June 10, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and his entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective February 3, 2006. The Board also granted a TDIU effective March 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's OSA was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions. The VA will need to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral lumbosacral disorder, anxiety, and depression have been dismissed due to the identical nature of the requests submitted on multiple occasions.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, and sinusitis. The claim of service connection for a disability manifested by perceived noise in the ears is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral lumbosacral disorder, anxiety, and depression have been dismissed due to the identical nature of the requests submitted on multiple occasions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the earlier effective date claims for major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, mitral regurgitation, and tinea corporis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized by persistent delusions, grossly inappropriate behavior, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, is rated at 100 percent from November 30, 2017. The Board also granted SMC HB effective September 18, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder is granted as there is medical evidence diagnosing these conditions, credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred, and medical evidence of a link between the current symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and VA medical opinions, as well as unclear diagnoses of personality disorder. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are being reconsidered.

The Veteran's mental health condition and headaches were rated at 30 percent from December 14, 2020 to May 4, 2021. The Veteran is denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for these conditions.,The Veteran's low back condition was rated at 10 percent effective April 23, 2021 and the Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected Anxiety and Depressive Disorder, finding that there is a link between these conditions based on medical evidence.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted service connection as it is considered to have started during his active duty service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's sperm granuloma with recurrent scrotal mass does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 4, 2018 for a 70% rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder. The Veteran's symptoms warranted this increased rating as early as October 4, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disorder was denied as the evidence did not show continuous pursuit of his original July 2013 claim, and the new evidence submitted in July 2020 did not establish that the psychiatric disorder resulted from or was aggravated by a service-connected disability.