Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the surviving spouse did not properly file for substitution as the claimant, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide the case.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with an increased rating for major depressive disorder to 100 percent and service connection for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity effective March 9, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with persistent depressive disorder, anxious distress and general anxiety disorder is granted. The Board finds the issue of a higher rating for TBI requires remand due to duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder prior to July 18, 2019, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. However, the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including recurrent major depressive disorder and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, based on the Veteran's reported military sexual trauma (MST) during active-duty field training in July 1985. The claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine and right ankle degenerative arthritis is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board's decision is dismissed due to a procedural defect, as the Veteran had already elected Higher-Level Review of the November 2023 AOJ rating decision and the appeal was improperly docketed at the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 13, 2020. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective May 13, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no final decision could be made on the service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his persistent depressive disorder that is secondary to these knee disabilities. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to an in-service stressor and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 9, 2005 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with depression and panic attacks. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU remains pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the earlier effective date determination.

The Veteran's appeal for a continued 70 percent rating for PTSD, previously rated as MDD, is dismissed because the RO changed the diagnosis to PTSD and continued the 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for various conditions have been dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for a right hip condition has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, particularly his PTSD. The VA examiner needs to consider the Veteran's stressor events and provide a more comprehensive opinion on the relationship between his current psychiatric conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) because there is no credible, competent evidence of a DSM-5 mental disorder diagnosis prior to the closure of the evidentiary record for this appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and failure to consider certain theories of entitlement. The Veteran's claims are related to his military service, but specific details about stressors and medical records remain unclear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, unspecified joint pain, fatigue (other than a psychiatric disability), and sleep disturbance condition (other than a psychiatric disability) are granted. The appeal is remanded for further development on the issue of service connection for unspecified joint pain.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder have been granted an initial rating of 50 percent from October 26, 2005 to December 2, 2017. The TDIU claim was also granted during this period.