Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Service connection was also established for tinnitus, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and left ear hearing loss effective January 18, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings and effective dates for his service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and whether it can be differentiated from his PTSD.

The Board has granted the appellant's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The bar to benefits due to dishonorable discharge is lifted, and the appellant is now eligible for VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to May 17, 2016 was denied. However, the Board granted a 100% disability rating as of May 17, 2016 for his unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran still needs VR&E services and to assess her current employment status, education, and skills. The goal is to provide appropriate vocational rehabilitation services based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating the use of a cane or wheelchair as a normal mode of locomotion. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his psychiatric disability, excluding the period from May 3, 2017 to June 30, 2017 when he was awarded a 100% evaluation due to PTSD hospitalization, is granted. A TDIU is also granted for the entire appeal period.

Service connection is denied for a right shoulder condition, back disability, ingrown toenails of the left and right feet, eye condition (refractive error), hearing loss, respiratory condition, digestive condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and depression with anxiety.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Anxiety disorder, and Depression as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder was granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent from August 22, 2013 to November 8, 2015.

The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for depressive disorder prior to November 18, 2022 was denied. However, the Veteran received a 70 percent rating effective from November 18, 2022.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder, finding that his symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the claims for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with recurrent major depressive disorder and ischemic heart disease due to an error in sending a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder alone precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU. He also meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to his other service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded.

The appeal is remanded for further action on the claims of service connection for hepatitis B with status post liver transplant, tender scar of the medial lower left arm, and left ulnar nerve injury with surgery.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder is reopened and granted. The claims for residuals of TBI, bilateral eye disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder are denied. Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral shoulder disorder, MDD, and hypertension are also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depression. The evidence does not show current diagnoses of these conditions.,There is no medical evidence showing that the Veteran currently suffers from a cardiovascular or psychiatric disability.