Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50 percent prior to October 22, 2019. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to this date.

The Veteran's initial rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is denied, and he is granted a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran also has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability since December 6, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claims for atrial fibrillation and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as secondary to atrial fibrillation) are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the disability picture does not warrant a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for other specified trauma with depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service stressors and personnel records show he served in Bahrain during Desert Storm.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with symptoms of depression is rated at the highest possible level (100%) due to significant impairment in work and social relationships, including difficulty maintaining effective relationships, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.

The Board has denied service connection for depression, hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and tinnitus. The decision is based on the lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or within one year after active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders including PTSD and depression are related to service or any event or injury during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder, finding that his current symptoms are related to an in-service MST during basic training.

The Board has granted separate ratings for Parkinson's Disease and Depression, as well as earlier effective dates of November 19, 2021 for the grants of service connection for Parkinson's, Diabetes, and a Psychiatric Disorder. The decision also addresses the Appellant's claims regarding these issues.

The Veteran's neck disabilities, including degenerative joint disease with cervical spondylosis, cervical radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease, myofascial pain syndrome, and chronic pain syndrome, are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's headache disability is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder, are remanded for further evaluation.

The appeal is granted for service connection of PTSD, extraction of 4 wisdom teeth, fractured rib, left ankle pain, left knee pain, left wrist pain, refractive eye surgery, and right shoulder bursitis. The appeals of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and entitlement to service connection for right shoulder bursitis are dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious distress has been granted a 70 percent disability rating from November 11, 2019, and TDIU due to service-connected depression. The initial increased rating is denied prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the development of in-service stressors and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence presented in a supplemental claim. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, are related to her active service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but the Board granted service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, to include depression. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and his diagnosis of other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder and major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient VA examination opinions and incomplete service records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, are being evaluated again for proper service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of severe depression due to sexual assault, finding that no good cause was shown and that the SOC was properly sent to the correct address.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).