Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's TDIU and housebound status claims are both granted due to the severity of her service-connected disabilities, which render her unable to work and substantially confined to her home.

The appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder or insomnia, sleep apnea, and increased ratings for post-operative residuals spinal fusion/IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), painful scar, status post laminectomy, scars, status post laminectomy and spinal fusion surgeries, and maxillary sinusitis has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his appeal in June 2024.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for headaches was rendered moot by the AOJ's award of service connection for headaches in February 2024.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected major depressive disorder and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 27, 2021 due to procedural errors regarding employment history and reasons for separation from previous positions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the reductions were not proper due to a lack of actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU effective March 22, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs to provide an additional VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including failing to provide a VA examination for PTSD and relying on an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is now rated at 50 percent from June 8, 2021. Prior to that date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia, unspecified depressive disorder, and anxiety have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depression prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder, pulmonary vascular disease, post-phlebitic syndrome of the left lower extremity, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is found to be related to her active-duty service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and her active-duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are rated at 70 percent, allowing for a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric, foot, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities. The claims are related to service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that an effective date of November 27, 2019 is warranted for the award of a 70 percent rating for MDD. The Veteran's claims for right hip and left knee disabilities as well as TDIU are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted with an effective date of July 7, 2020. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement arose was December 27, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, MDD, and GAD are causally related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder (MDD), finding that his current symptoms are related to events he experienced during service. Service connection is denied for PTSD due to lack of verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unemployable prior to December 8, 2023. After that date, his disability rating was increased to 100%, making the TDIU issue moot.

The Veteran's claim for an initial noncompensable rating for headaches associated with PTSD and depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.