Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, which are currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and other conditions. His claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder is also granted, but the claim for migraine headaches and lumbar spine condition remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for PTSD service connection and an increased rating for unspecified depressive disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder with alcoholic behaviors, major depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder are proximately due to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions as secondary to his back pain.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as it was caused by hazardous noise exposure in service.,Service connection for hepatitis C with liver cirrhosis is denied because there is no evidence of onset or causation during service and the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis prior to separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and major depression are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is required to address all theories of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and PTSD, is related to his service. The VA needs to obtain an addendum from a clinician addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression and prostate cancer residuals, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 23, 2012. The Board granted an effective date of January 23, 2012, for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder was granted a TDIU in the June 2023 rating decision, and the Appellant is eligible for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been raised and needs to be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for services provided by the appellant on July 17, 2019 were denied as there was no indication of prior authorization and the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency medical care.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the condition began during active service and continues to this day.

The Veteran's increased rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted to a 70 percent disability rating. The appeal of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected due to the submission of new and relevant evidence showing a current disability related to in-service events.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 16, 2020 for the grant of a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD was denied. The Veteran's PTSD rating from 30 percent to 50 percent effective January 16, 2020 is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is granted with a June 4, 2013 effective date. However, the rating for this condition remains at 70 percent and no higher. The Veteran also received some benefits related to his housing and transportation needs.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for allergic rhinitis was denied, and the Board has remanded his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board found that there were no nasal polyps in his case.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, depression, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatic neuropathy of the left and right legs, as well as left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for clarification of the standard used in assessing secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for MDD was denied, and his claim for SMC based on aid and attendance prior to March 15, 2021, was also denied.