Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, as well as his depression. The decision is based on evidence showing a current disability that is related to an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the right hand, and degenerative joint disease of the left hand were denied as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder with mixed features is denied. The Board found that the earliest date on which service connection could be established was July 21, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, contributed to his suicide, granting service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), finding that the Veteran's MDD had onset in service. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder has been granted service connection. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, depression, and anxiety were not proximately caused or aggravated by VA's carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified anxiety and depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is appropriate as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and his alcohol use disorder is considered a progression of the service-connected depression. The appeal for an increased rating has been granted.

The Board has expanded the issue to include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim is remanded due to insufficient competent medical evidence and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are related to an in-service stressor, his OSA is proximately due to his service-connected knee disability, but he does not have BHL for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a right lower shin fracture and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis, L5-S1 neural foraminal stenosis with IVDS. The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is rated at 20 percent due to the presence of functional loss and pain during range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, to his service. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination in connection with this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 23, 2010, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with anxious distress is granted.,The claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, is granted service connection. The Veteran's DJD of the first right MTP joint is granted a 20% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder was granted. The effective date for this award is September 30, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent MDD with anxious distress and insomnia disorder is rated at 70 percent since October 2, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder, is rated at 50% effective October 31, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to missing service treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's SSN may be incorrect, and a search should be conducted using both correct and incorrect numbers.