Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and sleep disturbances due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right wrist condition, left knee chondromalacia patella, and right knee chondromalacia patella are all rated at the maximum allowed under current criteria. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, lymph node cancer as secondary to prostate cancer, and depression as secondary to prostate cancer due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's unspecified bipolar and related disorder, as well as her PTSD with secondary MDD, both of which are found to have onset during her period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and are linked to an in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective April 10, 2020. This is the earliest date it could be due to his service-connected PTSD and within one year prior to when he filed his VA Form 21-8940.

The Board denied an earlier effective date prior to September 19, 2011 for the assignment of a rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine and in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's back disability is not service-connected, and has remanded his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and depression due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has found that the VA Regional Office did not obtain relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which may be pertinent to the Veteran's claims. The appeal is being remanded to obtain these SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hearing loss, tinnitus, breathing condition, left knee and leg, right knee and leg, mental condition (depression, anxiety relationship concerns, nightmares), skin condition on legs, and swelling in feet have all been denied.,There is no indication of service connection being granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied as the disability most nearly approximates the current 70 percent evaluation, which is appropriate given his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected MDD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, but rather occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, increased rating for left knee limitation of flexion, and initial compensable disability rating for hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder for further development due to newly obtained VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for PTSD and depression, which may be related to a right knee disability. The Veteran's statements about his depression are not considered in the current opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 3, 2022, finding that there was no reasonable possibility of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to a compensable evaluation for TBI prior to September 20, 2023 and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder and TBI from September 20, 2023. The Veteran's legacy appeal was withdrawn when he opted into the modernized review system.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with its prior remand orders regarding scheduling of medical examinations for the Veteran's service connection claims. The appeals are therefore being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and Parkinson's disease have been granted service connection, with a 100% rating for major depressive disorder as of June 30, 2017. Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate has also been granted effective from that date. Initial evaluations of 40% each have been assigned for impairment of the right and left lower extremities associated with Parkinson's disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service or any other conditions.