Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for an eye/vision condition and remanded the issue of service connection for depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, PTSD, and insomnia disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The left ankle disability remains rated at 20 percent, while the major depression rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 26, 2006, and April 13, 2010, for service connection and a TDIU claim due to failure to consider de novo the relevant service department records submitted in July 2017. The AOJ must reconsider these claims based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, depression, and anxiety are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the in-service stressors were credible and linked to current symptoms.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected diabetes mellitus and major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depressive disorder and finds no evidence linking any such condition to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for depressive disorder is denied.

The Board found that despite the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, he retained the ability to perform the physical and mental acts required by employment. Therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the pending appeal of his service connection claims. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered once the service connection claims are resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The VA must provide a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 26, 2013 for the grant of service connection for a major depressive disorder is denied. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his major depressive disorder is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is at least as likely as not related to events experienced during his active-duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim of service connection for a LEFT shoulder disorder and cervical spine disorder, as well as the denial of SMC at the K-rate on account of 'loss of use' of the LEFT foot.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, chronic headaches, right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee strain with bursitis, chronic right knee strain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, chronic right ankle sprain, allergic conjunctivitis, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities. As such, TDIU is granted from August 26, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent disabling for depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder is denied. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right upper extremity thoracic nerve radulopathy is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of sufficient information in the September 2022 VA examination opinion, and additional evidence needs to be considered.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder were granted an increased rating to 100 percent effective October 28, 2023. The earlier effective date for the 100 percent evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and major depression was originally denied in April 2021. The Board has determined that the earliest effective date is February 25, 2021, as this is when the Veteran first submitted her original claim.