Depression decisions — 2024

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent from July 16, 2010, to October 29, 2022, for major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete review of the Veteran's reported stressor event. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed plane crash at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base and consider records from July 24, 1968, to July 15, 1969.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate September 2019 VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder without agoraphobia. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a supplemental medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is now rated at 50 percent, effective August 4, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with PTSD prior to June 23, 2022 is dismissed as the Board has already granted an initial 70% rating effective August 3, 2012.,The appeals for increases in staged ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are dismissed as the October 2022 decision granting increased ratings did not constitute an initial decision to which the AMA applies.,The appeal for a scar of the posterior trunk is granted with an initial 10% rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of October 18, 2020 for a 50 percent rating for bilateral flat foot with plantar fasciitis.,An earlier effective date of October 18, 2020 is granted for a 30 percent rating for migraine including migraine variants.,The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are now rated at 50 percent effective July 13, 2021.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent prior to September 9, 2020 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The claim for hypertension service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, as well as his TDIU application, are both granted effective July 21, 2020. The effective date is the earliest possible given that he continuously pursued his claims since filing his September 2020 Supplemental Claim.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with PTSD is granted an initial rating of 70 percent effective August 3, 2012. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to the service-connected condition remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder was denied as the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for sinusitis was also denied because his condition did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors. The AOJ will attempt to obtain ship logs and other pertinent records from the USS Emory S Land (AS-39) to support his claims.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of verified in-service stressors. The claim for other specified depressive disorder is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder is found to be related to her military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran is granted TDIU effective September 27, 2019. The effective date for DEA eligibility is also set to September 27, 2019.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder, Right Knee Total Replacement, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine, and others, prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious features, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his service and specifically the death of his father during service.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for depression, low back condition, gynecological condition, and skin condition due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to her service.

Service connection for headaches is denied.,An earlier effective date of November 13, 2018, for an increased disability rating of 70 percent for the psychiatric disability (PTSD with depressive disorder and insomnia) is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and hypertension, but has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.