Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining all available VA treatment records and seeking medical opinions regarding whether service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 2013 for a 100% rating for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent. The decision is based on the Veteran's symptoms and impairment from January 2, 2014 onwards.

The Veteran's MDD symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment for the entire period on appeal, warranting a 100% disability rating. The Veteran also meets criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left groin injury (claimed as left thigh muscle stain/pull), and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee pain conditions as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not appropriate due to insufficient evidence of occupational and social impairment in most areas.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and GERD. The appeal for TDIU was also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were addressed in a September 2020 rating decision, which granted the requested effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression associated with GERD with H. Pylori status post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with residual bloating, flatulence, and inability to vomit, to include IBS.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of his 30 percent disability rating for depressive disorder was granted because the AOJ improperly reduced it to noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions, right knee disability, unspecified depressive disorder, sciatic nerve radiculopathies, femoral nerve radiculopathies, and tension-migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 5, 2019.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 5, 2012 for the establishment of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia. The decision is based on a finding that the Veteran's informal claim was received by VA on April 5, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance on and after February 18, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The Veteran does not have unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. For TDIU, the Veteran has met the schedular requirements with a combined rating of 90% excluding the temporary total rating period.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability prior to November 18, 2020 did not result in total occupational and social impairment, thus the claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of more than 50 percent is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a right-hand disability, and a vision disability due to errors in providing adequate notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing on supplemental claims.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for TDIU and a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, and other stimulant disorder due to a failure to provide a medical examination in furtherance of the Veteran's claim. The Veteran reported experiencing a traumatic event during basic training that resulted in the death of a fellow recruit, which he believes contributed to his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma or stressor related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder (claimed as PTSD) is rated at 70 percent, but the appeal for a higher rating has been denied. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 10, 2006 for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 with an earlier effective date than June 1, 2016 is denied.