Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. A new VA examination is required to address these issues.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress with insomnia resulted in occupational and social impairment from March 9, 2015 to September 2, 2021. The claim for service connection of the back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder is remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was evaluated at a 50 percent rating during the period from February 19, 2010, to July 21, 2021. The evidence did not support an increase in disability severity warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, with effective dates set at May 11, 2018, and December 1, 2017, respectively.,Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was granted on October 4, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The 70% rating for persistent depressive disorder remains unchanged, while the 20% ratings for avascular necrosis of both hips are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder as these conditions are at least as likely as not etiologically related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran seeks a higher rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and an earlier effective date. The Board denied the higher rating, but remanded the issues of an earlier effective date and service connection.,The Veteran also contends that he is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, but the evidence shows he has been unemployed since 2011 due in part to a physical disability. The right knee claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied, and the Board found that she is not entitled to TDIU based solely on her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and paranoid schizophrenia. The claim was not granted.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on a statutory housebound basis due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder has resulted in total social and occupational impairment, including intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living and gross impairment in thought process or communication. As of August 17, 2022, a 100 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed as the AOJ granted service connection for this condition in March 2023.,Service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no persuasive weight of evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD during or proximate to the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the VA examination, requiring a new examination that considers lay statements and previous evaluations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, GAD, and situational phobia, is granted as secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee disability. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent, and service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and left patellar tendonitis are also granted. The Veteran's right shoulder condition was found to be limited to 80 degrees of motion, which does not warrant an increased rating. Service connection for the depressive disorder is granted based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been granted a 100 percent rating, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability. The claim will be reconsidered with the possibility of an examination.