Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was rated at 50% from July 1, 2010, through September 1, 2011. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea, right forearm supination and pronation impairment, right forearm limitation of extension, and right forearm compartment syndrome with crush injury with fasciotomy are all granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran seeks a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability prior to April 6, 2010. The Board has determined that the evidence is incomplete and requires additional development regarding her employment history.

The Veteran's increase in disability of his major depressive disorder was factually ascertainable on May 20, 2021, the date he submitted a personal statement about his symptoms. Therefore, an effective date of May 20, 2021 for a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorder, chronic knee strain, residuals of left knee injury, tinnitus, and allergic rhinitis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The evidence shows occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, but no total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was granted, effective from December 15, 2021. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is July 7, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for his depressive disorder and lung disability have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back, hip, and knee conditions, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to mobility issues that prevent him from performing daily activities independently. The Board has determined that the evidence supports granting SMC based on this need.

Your appeal for service connection on anxiety, depression, and insomnia has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board denied service connection for depression and restored the rating for right clavicle fracture, but did not grant a higher rating.

The Veteran became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, specifically major depressive disorder and lumbosacral strain, on June 19, 2019. The effective date for the award of Total Disability due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted as of that date.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for service connection of depressive disorder, which was granted in February 2021 with a November 26, 2019, effective date. The AOJ denied the claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) regarding this effective date. The Board has remanded the case to allow the AOJ to address the CUE contention.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression, PTSD, and insomnia), a back disability, and a right shoulder disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not currently demonstrate an actual need for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for additional private medical records related to his treatment for anxiety and depression secondary to tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, heart disability, residuals of head and face injury, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), chronic stomach disability, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on all service-connected disabilities from October 21, 2022. The claim for a TDIU prior to this date is moot.