Depression decisions — 2024

The appeal to reduce the disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is dismissed because no reduction has taken place.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including as residuals of TBI. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or other factors.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and depressed mood, is related to service. However, due to a lack of a VA examination, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding service connection for Major Depressive Disorder. A new VA opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's MDD had its onset during or was otherwise related to his military service, and if it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her inability to use assistive devices as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and panic disorder, is rated at 70 percent since July 6, 2019. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will reconsider the claim based on new service records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being evaluated for its relationship to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment. The Veteran maintains employment and has maintained relationships with family members.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from October 28, 2011 to April 29, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating during this period.,The Veteran is seeking an evaluation in excess of 30 percent and an earlier effective date for his major depressive disorder with an unspecified anxiety disorder from October 28, 2011 to May 5, 2019. The Board has remanded these issues due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports the readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's depressive disorder is now granted based on a finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical scar claim is denied, and the psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's MDD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent, and his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder due to inadequate examination and failure to consider private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims due to errors in duty to assist, including failure to obtain mental health and clinical records from service and private treatment records. The Veteran's left knee disability is also being examined for etiology.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's PDD is rated at 70 percent, also effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, depressive disorder, and insomnia disorder are being remanded due to the need for new medical opinions addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and psychiatric disabilities are currently pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities and chronic pain associated with them. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and depressive disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.