Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including diagnoses of depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome, with major depressive like episode, GAD, and alcohol use disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with lumbar discopathy s/p lumbar surgery with synovial cyst and degenerative changes. The Board has also granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was received on March 20, 2019. The Board found that the earliest effective date is March 20, 2019 as it is the later of the two dates (the date of receipt of the claim or the date entitlement arose).

The Board has restored service connection for major depressive disorder with psychotic features due to the improper severance decision in the previous rating decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, is related to his military service and has been granted. The issue of a temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment in excess of 21 days is remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and links it to an in-service stressor.,Service connection has also been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Major Depression (MDD) and Anxiety. The evidence shows that these conditions are linked to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety and depression, but denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's anxiety and depression are found to be related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified major depressive disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with adjustment disorder is rated at 70 percent from March 23, 2015.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for other specified depressive disorder was dismissed because the issue has been rendered moot due to a prior grant of service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the August 2015 and October 2016 rating decisions, thus the Board has no jurisdiction to consider these appeals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but the Board expanded it to include major depressive disorder. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder and established a causal relationship between his in-service experience and his current condition. Therefore, service connection is granted for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, diagnosed as severe and life-threatening with indices of greater than 55 respiratory disturbances and 55% oxygen saturation, was granted service connection on a secondary basis due to his service-connected back pain, depressive disorder, knee disabilities, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's cause of death from acute myocardial infarction caused by severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and sexual dysfunction, both secondary to his service-connected GERD. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors that occurred prior to the July 2019 rating decision on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is now rated at 100% effective July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI, must be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. An addendum opinion is needed from the VA examiner.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 11, 2013 for the service connection of a persistent depressive disorder. The case is remanded to determine if entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Veteran's MDD is granted a higher rating of 70 percent prior to February 9, 2023. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for MDD after February 9, 2023, and the claim for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus are denied. Earlier effective dates are granted for various disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and is considering other claims, including an increased rating for acquired psychiatric disorder and left wrist tendonitis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder currently rated at 70% will not be granted a higher rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted, with the earliest possible effective date being March 22, 2017.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder are related to service.,The Veteran's Somatic Symptom Disorder is not related to service.