Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for epilepsy and traumatic brain injury have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and thus grants a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for renal disease, psychiatric disability (including depression), and hypertension due to insufficient evidence regarding their service connection. The Veteran's death prevented a VA examination from being conducted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for neurocognitive disorder (memory loss) with depressive disorder, due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) with headaches is being remanded. The AOJ should obtain any outstanding VA treatment records and readjudicate the claims based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the issues of an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection, establishing basic eligibility to DEA benefits, and TDIU prior to November 3, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinions and further development of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is secondary to her service-connected conditions, including headaches and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Veteran's service-connected depression disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are considered to be the cause of his insomnia, so he cannot get separate compensation for insomnia.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder with mood congruent psychotic features resulted in total occupational and social impairment prior to September 30, 2016. From September 30, 2016, the Veteran experienced severe psychiatric symptoms resulting in total occupational and social impairment warranting a 100% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the period beginning December 1, 2017, through March 19, 2018. For the period beginning March 20, 2018, forward, he is granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, left knee disability, seizures, TIA, heart disability, bilateral lower leg neurological disability, and shaky leg syndrome. The issues include determining the severity of these conditions, whether they are related to service or other disabilities, and if they are aggravated by other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's character of discharge for the period from June 12, 2004, to October 2, 2007, constitutes a bar to VA benefits.,Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and PTSD) is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hip disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the claim for recurrent bacterial vaginosis.,Service connection is being remanded for recurrent bacterial vaginosis due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service stressors and their impact on his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's MDD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not result in significant deficiencies in most areas. A 50% disability rating is granted for the period from July 30, 2009 to July 30, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing military personnel records and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's service in the Air Force National Guard is now considered active service based on a grant of tinnitus. A VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD, including whether it was caused by an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected right shoulder disability, GERD, and other physical disabilities. The TDIU claim is remanded pending the rating of her acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with an increased 70 percent rating for PTSD/depressive disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors occurred during active service.