Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examination must consider whether in-service MST occurred and if it contributed to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, as the prior examinations were not conducted in his home state and he was unable to attend them.

The Board has restored a 100% rating for PTSD and MDD, effective from August 1, 2022, after finding that the reduction in rating was not properly made according to VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the evidence did not show that the disability level of 70 percent was factually ascertainable prior to January 12, 2022.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The appeal for psychiatric disorder is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorders and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for increased rating for the service-connected status post small bowel resection and history of peptic ulcer, GERD, remains pending.

The Board denied entitlement to earlier effective dates for both a higher MDD rating and TDIU. The Veteran's claim for increased MDD was granted with an effective date of September 22, 2020, based on the filing of his intent to file a claim. For TDIU, the effective date is denied as it does not meet the schedular requirements within one year of the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of GERD.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include major depression was dismissed as the Veteran received a separate grant of service connection in October 2023 for adjustment disorder with depressed mood, which he filed as his claim for major depression.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral onychomycosis has been denied as there is no evidence of current or past-on-service diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that his current psychiatric disability is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent, granting an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The Board also granted a TDIU from February 2, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal through their authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence regarding military sexual trauma and work performance issues. The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD, anxiety, and depression related to MST is being reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder and bilateral hearing loss, are severe enough to prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran received a 60 percent rating for GERD since March 21, 2015, and a 30 percent rating for IBS since the same date. A more than 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, depressive disorder, and insomnia disorder was denied as of June 6, 2024.

The Veteran's depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the level of total occupational and social impairment. The Board found that a higher evaluation was not warranted.

The Veteran's request to restore a 70 percent rating for her psychiatric conditions was granted.,Her claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and other service-connected disorders was denied. However, she was granted service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, based on the Veteran's in-service stressor of witnessing a fellow soldier who had died by suicide.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective dates are February 18, 2014 for SMC and February 19, 2014 for DEA.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which was granted a permanent and total rating from February 18, 2014. This resulted in the assignment of earlier effective dates for both SMC and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for migraine headaches and PTSD, bipolar II disorder, and persistent depressive disorder with traumatic brain injury have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding his respiratory disability and depressive disorder.