Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the VA examination and etiological opinion provided were inadequate, necessitating a remand to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder. The decision is based on evidence showing a current diagnosis of these conditions and a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical examination addressing whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by service. The Veteran contends that his condition existed prior to service and was aggravated therein.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and insomnia disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level as he maintains social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, previously claimed as chronic fatigue disorder (CFS), is granted with an effective date of March 15, 2016. The claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied due to the earliest possible effective date being April 6, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic renal disease, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis and the medication prescribed for those disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for these conditions. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since October 8, 2013. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 21, 2020, for a 100% rating for his service-connected insomnia disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder has been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected persistent depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her reported in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The appeals concerning various disabilities and benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for major depressive disorder due to its relationship with the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The VA is required to provide a medical examination and opinion to determine if the depression is related to the Veteran's active duty service or his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 1, 1993, for service connection due to PTSD with depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS based on a finding of no clear and unmistakable error in the August 1993 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for chronic groin injury, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder and depressive disorder), and allergic rhinitis due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding causality.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder, was found to have manifested as no worse than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a work-like setting, inability to establish and maintain effective relationships, suicidal ideation, intrusive memories, dissociative reactions (such as flashbacks), avoidance of reminders of trauma, irritability and angry outbursts, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response. The Veteran's disability rating was denied for a higher than 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with an alcohol-use disorder and major depressive disorder is granted a 100% evaluation, effective November 18, 2016. The VA has ordered remands for evaluations of thoracolumbar myofascial syndrome and left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error involving private medical records and workers' compensation records. The AOJ must attempt to obtain these records before considering the merits of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression, have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.