Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her bilateral knee disabilities, hypothyroidism, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ will consider additional evidence and obtain new medical opinions regarding the etiology of the right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 1, 2020, was denied as the earliest effective date that can be assigned is April 15, 2020. The Board found that the pursuit via prior claims and appeals ended with no timely responses.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD was reduced from 70 to 50 percent, but the Board has restored the original 70 percent rating effective February 1, 2021.

The Veteran's service connection for persistent depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of January 28, 2010. He also received a rating in excess of 50 percent since February 27, 2020 and TDIU benefits.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to warrant readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for depression, PTSD with unspecified trauma and stress related disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabinoid use disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted a 100 percent rating, indicating total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided that service connection is denied for transient ischemic attacks, depressive disorder, diverticulitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia residuals, hypertension, sleep apnea, dyspnea, and hyperresponsive airway disease. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so incapable of performing the activities of daily living that he requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, both found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disorder-induced chronic pain syndrome.

The Board has restored a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, effective July 1, 2021, as the reduction from 100 to 70 percent was not proper due to insufficient evidence of improvement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left knee scars has been denied because the scars do not meet the criteria under VA regulations.

The appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed.,Service connection for mild tibiotalar osteoarthritis, left ankle is granted based on resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service-connected.,His depression and anxiety are already covered by his existing service-connected adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood, so these claims are dismissed.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for major depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for L5-S1 lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.,Service connection for hearing loss was denied because there is no indication of its manifestation within one year of service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for Major Depressive Disorder and service connection for a respiratory disability, effective from February 8, 2017. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted from December 23, 2020 onward.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent disabling since October 14, 2020. The effective date for this rating is also October 14, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for mental distress (anxiety, depression) due to in-service trauma and mental health treatment. The evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the current condition was caused by military service.