Depression decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol and cannabis use disorders, finding that the evidence did not show an event or disease in service and no link to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, apart from his service-connected autoimmune disorder was denied.,An effective date prior to July 31, 2014, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.,A 70 percent disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder is granted starting from November 29, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression with anxiety disorder was granted, and an initial disability rating of 70% was assigned effective March 17, 2022. The attorney is eligible for direct payment of fees based on this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, epigastric disability, right knee disability, skin disability, and depression as new and relevant evidence was not received to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, stress disorder, and adjustment disorder, finding no causal relationship between his current disability and his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea due to its complexity and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the VA did not make reasonable efforts to obtain treatment records from a therapist named S.C. and has therefore remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current psychiatric disabilities and his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depressive disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of worsening conditions or entitlement to a higher rating within the one-year look-back period.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion from a clinician to address whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to military service, caused by his service-connected disabilities, or aggravated by them. The claim is still pending and will be reconsidered after the additional evidence is considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain medical opinions and examinations prior to issuing the December 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in the previous examinations, and additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder as the Veteran's symptoms did not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 50 percent disability rating for depressive disorder is denied. The Board found that no increase in the disability was shown within one year prior to the claim.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, as the evidence did not support a link to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no competent evidence that his current condition was incurred in or is otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD with major depression has been dismissed as he withdrew his request to continue the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The claim for a higher rating for left thumb disability and the TDIU claim were also denied.