Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has found a pre-decisional error in the VA examination opinion and requires further medical development to address whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is caused by or incurred during service, due to or the result of his service-connected scar disability, and if it is aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss related to service and denied her claim for this condition. The claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, drug use (acquired psychiatric disorder), and back strain are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for costochondritis and granted readjudication of her claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to allow for further consideration.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and respiratory disabilities are denied. The respiratory claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has restored the disability ratings for migraine headaches, TBI and major depressive disorder, and left ankle sprain to their previous levels due to improper reduction.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if her PTSD is related to service, and for a new rating for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is dismissed. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, which have been alleged to be the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 19, 2017, for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim from August 17, 2019, is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder are rated at 100 percent effective December 9, 2022, due to total occupational and social impairment caused by persistent suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis are granted service connection under the PACT Act, effective from August 7, 2013.,TMJ is granted an increased rating to 30 percent effective February 3, 2021.,Depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating effective February 3, 2021.,Tension headaches are denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.,Fibromyalgia remains at its maximum allowable rating of 50 percent.,IBS with GERD is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and mild neurocognitive disorder, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain (sciatica), right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, and left hip degenerative arthritis have been denied. The decision does not address service connection for specific conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms, is causally related to her service in South Korea. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% evaluation for service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder was granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral asbestos pleural disease, sinusitis, and skin cancer were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. The VA must provide an adequate medical opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for neurocognitive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms cannot be differentiated from his other service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has been rated at 100% since June 21, 2019, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's remaining service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the denial of his appeal for restoration of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder with insomnia was granted effective May 6, 2021. The decision does not specify any earlier effective date.