Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the VA examiner's opinions regarding etiology and secondary service connection.

Your appeal has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw it. Your earlier effective date for service connection was granted by VA.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The issues include verifying in-service stressors related to his submarine service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the left hip with bursitis with limitation of flexion, right and left knee disabilities, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for major depressive disorder and bilateral pes cavus and hammertoes has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the February 2020 VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as there is no indication that he has a current mental health diagnosis.

The Veteran's MDD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board has granted a disability rating of 70 percent for MDD.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to July 3, 2019, for tinnitus service connection and a rating in excess of 70% for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted an initial 70 percent rating effective December 10, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating was denied.

The VA granted a 50% rating for headaches from October 26, 2016 and effective dates for the ratings of right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran is also service-connected for depression secondary to headaches.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to a lack of examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's headache disorder, PTSD, and lumbar spine disorder are not currently service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and mild alcohol use disorder, has been granted due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress is denied.,The Veteran's asthma claim is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's neurogenic bladder disability is rated at the highest available rating (60%) and does not warrant an increased rating. The Board also granted a TDIU effective May 14, 2018.,The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities since May 14, 2018, and she is now eligible for DEA benefits based on this finding.

The Veteran's rating for unspecified anxiety with depression was restored to 30 percent, effective October 20, 2020. A higher rating of 50 percent is granted for recurrent major depressive disorder.

The reduction in the disability rating for major depression from 100 percent to 30 percent was not proper, and restoration of the 100 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, is remanded due to errors in VA's pre-decisional duty to assist. The claim will be reconsidered with the verification of the alleged stressor involving TSgt. Ross's trailer fire and clean-up.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,Specifically, the AOJ must provide the Veteran with a comprehensive examination and obtain medical opinions addressing his claimed bilateral foot condition, left shoulder condition, swollen painful joints, psychiatric conditions, shortness of breath, digestive condition, and headaches.