Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in May 2023 were denied, and thus attorney fees are not granted from these decisions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder, PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's lay contentions must be considered in making the determination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression and anxiety disorder as the evidence did not persuasively show that these conditions began during active service or were related to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent and moderate was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The award is restored.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's testicular torsion is currently rated at noncompensable (0%), and he is already receiving maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was untimely filed, and thus the RO could not accept it. The Veteran had until February 26, 2020 to file a formal appeal but did not do so within the time limit.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for residuals of left foot healed fracture is dismissed.,The Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding a clear and unmistakable error in the evaluation of major depressive disorder and an increase to 10 percent, which was established from December 14, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right jaw injury, dementia, depression, and anxiety due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to in-service head injuries. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed service connection through VA examinations and medical records, but no specific conditions or exposures were identified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed as the appeal period ended with a full award of benefits.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with dysthymia was denied due to symptoms not meeting criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his TBI began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for a psychiatric disability was granted with an effective date of May 7, 2021. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability is granted, with a 70% rating effective January 2, 2020. The appeal also includes a request for an earlier effective date and TDIU from March 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for increases in the staged ratings (of 50 percent prior to February 2, 2016, and 70 percent since that date) for PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and effective date for his service-connected major depressive disorder was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for an earlier effective date prior to June 25, 2020.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of sleep apnea and granted an earlier effective date of June 7, 2016 for headaches. The Veteran's increased rating for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and dementia with insomnia are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that these symptoms do not warrant a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and bilateral foot conditions, rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 17, 2023. The Board granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety associated with migraine was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of whether bilateral tinnitus is secondary to service-connected depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with an opinion on this theory.