Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and depression, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for depression as it is considered a symptom of the already service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression was withdrawn. A 50 percent rating is granted for the mental health disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a higher initial rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, a compensable disability rating for bilateral lower extremity scars, and TDIU have all been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, sleep apnea and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened. The Board finds that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of these claims.,The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with an unspecified depressive disorder and cannabis use disorder is granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 25, 2022. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted. However, the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD thereafter remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD and adjustment disorder are granted a 50% rating after August 5, 2019. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including diagnoses of major depressive disorder, depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizoaffective disorder and anxiety. The appeal was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective February 21, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been withdrawn and dismissed. The issues of unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, IVDS (neck), lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his psychiatric and left wrist disabilities, as well as a new VA examination for his cervical spine condition. The claims are also remanded for further development related to stressor verification.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that the OSA is proximately due to or aggravated by this condition.