Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 15, 2018 for the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder due to severe impairment and total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has restored the Veteran's prior 100% disability rating for major depression, effective March 1, 2019. The reduction from 100% to 70% was improper and is now reversed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of March 11, 2022. The rating assigned is a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder and depression) but denied service connection for right elbow, right shoulder, and neck disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the right shoulder and neck disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant SSA records and failing to provide a VA examination. The claims will be reconsidered with these additional pieces of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety, is related to his active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is service-connected, and he is granted an initial rating of 20 percent for his left ankle disability.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is also granted an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the AOJ improperly severed service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, and restored it.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression mood, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are related to an in-service event, leading to their service connection. The claims for prostate cancer and bladder cancer due to toxic exposures are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA's efforts in locating and examining the Veteran, particularly regarding his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to military sexual trauma (MST). The Veteran is asked to provide additional information and evidence related to his claimed MST stressor.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, to support the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress and insomnia disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression.

The Veteran's MDD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent effective May 21, 2019. The IVDS with arthritis of the lumbar spine and thoracic scoliosis received a higher rating from April 25, 2023.,A TDIU claim prior to July 11, 2014 was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, particularly PTSD. The decision is pending further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rectal bleeding and other specified anxiety with alcohol use disorder were reopened.,Service connection was granted for status post multiple surgical procedures for rectal abscess and fistula and rectal incontinence (claimed as rectal bleeding), an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder secondary to major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and chronic pain from recurring rectal fistula.