Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan where she witnessed traumatic events, combined with her history of childhood abuse.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, severe, is evaluated at a 70 percent rating. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher 100 percent evaluation due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 31, 2020. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as his employment as a VA police officer was considered substantial gainful employment.

Your appeals for service connection for depressive disorder and hypertension have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's PTSD claim, specifically failing to obtain a VA examination. The Veteran is diagnosed with multiple psychiatric conditions and his wife died while he was in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being reviewed with a focus on verifying his in-service stressor event.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST) with major depressive disorder was granted, and the effective date is set at April 16, 2004, which is the day following her separation from service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the need for a VA examination and SSA records review. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder may be related to military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for major depressive disorder as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection of diverticulitis with residuals of large intestine resection and lower abdomen scar, as well as major depressive disorder, was denied. The RO assigned the earliest possible effective dates based on when the Veteran submitted his claims.,For major depressive disorder, the Veteran did not file a claim prior to March 17, 2014, which is the date of receipt of his application for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of March 4, 2020. The decision is based on new evidence submitted after the previous denial in July 2014.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for major depressive disorder with mood congruent psychotic features and anxious distress, dysthymic disorder, and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claim of secondary service connection for migraine headaches secondary to his major depressive disorder is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination in this context.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, qualifying for TDIU. His obstructive sleep apnea requires the use of a CPAP machine but does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of depression was dismissed. The claim for an initial rating of 50 percent, but no higher, for PTSD was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically not obtaining an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability related to his service and exposure to bombs and herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain pending.