Depression decisions — 2024

The appeal for TDIU is dismissed. The issue of a separate rating for insomnia as part of the service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder, alcohol abuse and insomnia is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of asthma. Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric condition including major depression disorder, low back disability (degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy), and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition, and sleep apnea were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and unspecified trauma and stress related disorder) secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. Claims for service connection for eczema, cyst, and left eye disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded the case to evaluate whether a separate compensable rating is warranted for the Veteran's TBI residuals, including his vestibular injury and balance/dizziness symptoms. The DROC will schedule an examination and obtain a medical opinion regarding these issues.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder are rated at 100% for the purpose of accrued benefits.,The effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is set at October 17, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is granted TDIU and DEA benefits effective June 4, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions and the need for additional evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including left knee osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, right knee disability, insomnia, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder), spinal stenosis, and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis with headaches), and hypertension have been denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension is being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion.,The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension claim should be remanded to address whether his diagnosed hypertension is the result of an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of his right thumb disability, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and service connection for depression are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating effective November 1, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and depression, other than PTSD. Service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer, to include as due to exposure to water at Camp Lejeune.,The Board also denied service connection for depression, as secondary to thyroid cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, as well as his claim for TDIU. The evidence showed current diagnoses of PTSD and MDD but did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with other specified personality disorder has been rated at 100 percent, the maximum schedular rating. As a result, his claim for TDIU is moot.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain a VA examination as requested in previous remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is now pending and will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and right hand injuries, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 31, 2015. From that date onwards, he was granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of all his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's request to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for depression is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include other specified trauma and stress disorder, claimed as PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for aid and attendance is granted, effective September 17, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran has been in need of regular aid and assistance since at least September 11, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and for additional examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bipolar disorder with depression, anxiety, and insomnia have been granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbosacral disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ear hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, left toes stress fracture, and right toes stress fracture are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is also remanded.