Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including eye disability or vision disability, hearing loss, bone cancer (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia), drug abuse, alcohol abuse, psychiatric disability (Anxiety and depression), attempted suicide, dry skin disability, stress, memory loss, low back disability, headaches, and sleep disturbances have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions were not related to service or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided are incomplete, and thus remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of any psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Depressive Disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of March 6, 2015, for a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disability. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that there had been an increase in severity during the one-year lookback period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from his community psychiatrist.

The Veteran's appeals regarding various conditions were dismissed as she did not file a timely VA Form 10182 within the allowed time frame.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and an increased rating for major depressive disorder with mood-congruent psychotic features, including earlier effective date, has been dismissed as the claims have been granted in full.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service is not a bar to VA benefits, but the AOJ must obtain medical opinions regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of misconduct and whether he exhibited prolonged deviation or interference with society. The AOJ should also consider the recent change in law regarding consideration of an appellant's mental or cognitive impairment at the time of the in-service misconduct.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to May 27, 2011, due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his neck, back, and nerve conditions along with social anxiety disorder, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the case for an updated examination to reassess the Veteran's service-connected depression.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected persistent depressive disorder. The appeal for an increased rating of the service-connected persistent depressive disorder prior to February 1, 2013, is dismissed. The issue of a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the (R)(1) level was denied as he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's skin disability is related to service and granted. The claims for depression, anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hemorrhoids, diverticular disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, gall bladder disability, and hernia are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss claims are denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's severe depression, type II diabetes mellitus, left hand tingling, left leg numbness and tingling, and right leg numbness and tingling claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for PTSD, migraine headaches, and TDIU was denied. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, the highest available under current criteria. The rating for migraine headaches is also denied as they do not meet the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and errors in decision-making, specifically regarding the assessment of the Veteran's major depressive disorder and dementia. The Veteran is currently seeking an increased rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU and a higher evaluation for their mental disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal will be dismissed, but individuals who may be eligible for substitution can request it within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the previous VA medical opinion, which did not address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim is now being sent back for an addendum opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, insomnia, and personality disorder. The most probative evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.