Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders with panic attacks, as well as his cervical spine degenerative arthritis, are now rated at 70 percent effective May 5, 2015. The Board has granted an earlier effective date for the service connection of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it found clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the assignment of the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder, which was already granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and bilateral plantar fasciitis, have prevented him from securing and following gainful employment since January 5, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other conditions. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported stressor of witnessing dead bodies during active duty in Japan.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD (previously rated as major depressive disorder) is dismissed because the issue was already decided in the legacy system and does not fall under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, MDD, adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety, and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may affect the outcome.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining a complete VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether any pre-existing mental health disability existed prior to service entrance or worsened during service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, based on in-service stressors related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted service connection. The claim for hysterectomy secondary to fibroids and left ovarian cyst is remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's claim was not timely filed and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression was granted in full. The Board dismissed the issue as moot due to the grant of benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder conditions, as well as his psychiatric disability (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD), and neck condition. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.,Service connection was not granted because there is no evidence of a current disability in the Veteran's shoulders or mental health conditions that can be linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of anxiety and depression disorders are dismissed as moot due to the overlap with his already service-connected PTSD.,For the entire appeal period, a 70 percent disability rating has been granted for PTSD, but no higher.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and severe MDD with psychotic features from May 17, 2019, to July 27, 2022, was denied. The evidence showed that the Veteran exhibited symptoms consistent with a 50 percent rating but not higher.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain evaluation was restored to 20 percent, effective January 10, 2019. An increased evaluation of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder and a 10 percent evaluation for hypertension were granted.