Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent, effective from December 23, 2021. The Board also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's request for a Higher Level Review was timely due to good cause, and thus the AOJ's decision denying service connection for various conditions is now reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination report and a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being reviewed with additional evidence considered.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric condition effective June 14, 2021 is dismissed.,A disability rating of 100% for the entire period on appeal for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted.,Service connection for migraine headaches secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Chronic Adjustment Disorder and Unspecified Depressive Disorder, finding that new evidence submitted after previous denials supports this claim.

The Veteran's major depression disorder and somatic symptom disorder are found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee strain and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his in-service adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder and persistent depressive disorder due to the appellant's request to withdraw the appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including depression, insomnia, and PTSD due to MST. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry into active service but her claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional errors, including reliance on uncorroborated allegations of a suicide attempt during service. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are being reviewed for direct service connection and potential aggravation by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability featuring degenerative arthritis and disc disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA, and hernia disability.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying service connection for OSA, claimed as secondary to service-connected psychiatric disorder and DDD of the lumbar spine, is flawed due to a failure to consider whether obesity was an intermediate step in the development of OSA. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claim was based on his depressive disorder and anxiety, which were granted with a 50% evaluation as of December 5, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because his Notice of Disagreement did not identify any specific rating action for appeal.

The Veteran's herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 was granted a 30% rating. Service connection for hypertension, major depressive disorder, right shoulder disorder (painful limitation of motion), and hearing loss in the right ear were all denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, a foot disorder, and a hand/finger disorder due to lack of new and relevant evidence.