Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, migraines, and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, are found to be so severe that she is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for mood disorder/unspecified depressive disorder, but the Board denied this request as there is no evidence of increased disability prior to May 4, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with IVDS, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with IVDS or the current 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and somatoform disorder are granted as service connected. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and incorrect service connection standards. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and appropriate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been granted. The awards of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and migraine headaches are effective September 15, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to her active service. The Veteran was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression during service.

The Veteran's mechanical low back strain and right shoulder arthralgia are not rated higher than the current 10 percent levels.,The initial ratings for right and left shin splints have been granted at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with MDD was granted in August 2022, and the effective date is set at June 2, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA is required to provide a new examination in both cases.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as a free-standing claim.,The appeal seeking to revise or reverse the November 4, 2009 rating decision that denied service connection for depression and anxiety reaction is remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic disorder is granted as service-connected, effective November 6, 2023. The issue of treatment purposes only for this condition has been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if his chronic lumbar strain has the functional equivalent of ankylosis at any point during the appeal period, including during flare-ups. The Veteran's gambling disorder with depressive disorder continues to be rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, insomnia, and PTSD is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating was dismissed due to the appeal being improperly docketed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder as secondary to chronic fatigue syndrome is denied. However, the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is granted and set at October 2, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation higher than 50 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood associated with ulcerative colitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating.