Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain a substantially gainful occupation since March 10, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for recurrent head injury residuals and acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) due to insufficient medical opinions provided by the VA examiners.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected panic disorder, depression, and anxiety attacks is being remanded due to a failure to obtain a new examination given the evidence suggesting a worsening of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his mental health disabilities and TDIU is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from September 2019 onwards. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for major depressive disorder, and the claim is now dismissed as moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in providing proper notice and obtaining evidence related to the Veteran's reported in-service personal assault, as well as a need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including incomplete sexual trauma development and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Depressive Disorder will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 9, 2020. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 10, 2013, for the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is remanded. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to January 10, 2013, and the issue of increased rating for Major Depressive Disorder are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 10, 2013, for the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is remanded. The issues of entitlement to a TDIU prior to January 10, 2013, and increased rating for Major Depressive Disorder are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating. The claim for TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the established 100 percent rating.

The appeal to reduce the evaluation of PTSD with MDD from 100% to 70% was dismissed because no reduction had occurred at the time the Veteran submitted her NOD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, TDIU, and DEA benefits have been denied. The earliest date of entitlement to these benefits is July 26, 2016.,There was no formal or informal claim prior to July 26, 2016, for PTSD and depression.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to unspecified depressive disorder with obesity, finding that the Veteran's weight gain and obesity due to her service-connected mental health condition is a substantial factor in causing her current sleep apnea.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, did not result in the level of impairment required for a higher rating. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's initial claim for TBI residuals was denied, and a separate noncompensable evaluation is also denied.,An effective date prior to January 31, 2018, for the award of a separate noncompensable evaluation for TBI residuals is denied.,An effective date prior to January 31, 2018, for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for MDD with anxious distress, unspecified anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder in early remission, and TBI is denied.,An effective date prior to January 31, 2018, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was not granted before January 31, 2018.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status prior to January 31, 2018, is also denied.,The Veteran's request for a TDIU for the one-year appeal period prior to January 31, 2018, was not granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no current diagnosis of a mental health condition and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder remains at a 50% evaluation, but the appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder with major depressive-like features, finding that there is no current psychiatric diagnosis related to service or a service-connected disability.