Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has found that there was a duty to assist error and is remanding the service connection claims for further development. The Veteran's claims must be reviewed with any available SSA records, including medical records relied upon in their disability benefits claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, is being reviewed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to December 27, 2022.,Beginning December 27, 2022, there is no indication of significant impairment from the Veteran's MDD.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to April 2, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating has been granted. A finding of TDIU based solely on the service-connected conditions has also been granted. Additionally, special monthly compensation due to housebound status was awarded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The decision is based on inadequate VA examination(s) and a need for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as his major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted, effective July 1, 2019. The TDIU issue is considered moot as the Veteran's condition now meets the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU have been dismissed as the March 2021 decision granted these benefits.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder and unspecified depressive disorder. The cardiac disease claim is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided insufficient information to determine if any psychiatric disorder preexisted service or is related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic brain injury, depression on a secondary basis, and PTSD on a secondary basis are all granted. The rating for seizures is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his claims for bilateral hip conditions and lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The effective date is set at June 22, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as his major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current diagnosis and in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the adequacy of the VA examination report and to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the highest schedular rating (100%) for PTSD has been granted, making a TDIU moot. The earlier effective date of August 29, 2018 for DEA eligibility is granted.

The Veteran's rating for unspecified depressive disorder was reduced from 70% to 50%, but the December 2020 decision restored it back to 70%. The issue of service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to unspecified depressive disorder is referred to the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a failure to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which were not considered in the previous rating decision. The SSA records are required for further review.