Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the February 2020 VA examination and the Veteran's lay statements regarding why he did not seek mental health treatment in service. The examiner found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder was less likely than not incurred in, or caused by service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the claim for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been received. The case is remanded due to a need for another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 100% rating for major depressive disorder, SMC based on housebound status, and DEA eligibility is denied. The Board found that entitlement to these benefits arose after October 5, 2020.

The Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD was denied because the new evidence submitted did not provide any new or relevant information.

The Veteran's claims of a higher rating for depressive disorder and service connection for PTSD are being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice regarding an examination scheduled in April 2023.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on her need for supervision, protection, or instruction due to multiple diagnosed conditions and functional limitations. The appeal is being remanded for further development to determine eligibility for PCAFC benefits.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is restored to a 70% rating.,Prior to January 11, 2023, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was rated at 30%. After that date, it has been rated at 70%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding examinations for his PTSD, neck disorder, depression and anxiety, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

An increased disability rating of 70 percent for depression is granted effective May 15, 2014. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for depression is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his preexisting depression did not worsen during service and was due to natural progression.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders are all considered to be in the 'unknown' status as they have not been addressed yet.,Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for depression, a compensable rating for hypertension, TDIU, and COPD with asthma have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, claimed as back sprain and low back strain, is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, claimed as chronic major depression and stress, is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for her service-connected PTSD, stating that there was no prior claim of service connection for PTSD pending in her file and thus no basis to award a prior effective date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disability was denied. An earlier effective date of October 14, 2020, was granted for the award of TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in not scheduling a VA psychiatric examination prior to the decision on appeal. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are now pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased rating for PTSD was granted, with a 100% disability rating effective from April 29, 2015. The decision also addressed the Veteran's TDIU prior to September 30, 2019, which is now moot.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder with depressive disorder and primary insomnia was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with a rating of 70% effective from the date of receipt of the July 2022 supplemental claim, and an additional 20% was added making it a total of 90%. The attorney is eligible to receive fees based on past-due benefits awarded in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for his depressive disorder NOS with anxiety and polysubstance abuse was denied. The claim for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) was also denied.