Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the July 2019 and June 2020 VA medical opinions are inadequate for adjudicatory purposes due to a lack of discussion on secondary service connection. The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for an additional opinion addressing whether it was caused by or aggravated by her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is now rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety and agoraphobia is rated at 100 percent effective from January 7, 2021. DEA benefits are also awarded based on permanent total disability status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his mental state at the time of misconduct, as well as obtaining relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 70 percent. For the period prior to May 31, 2019, the Veteran's TDIU claim was granted due to service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus, and Persistent depressive disorder. Effective dates prior to May 30, 2018, are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental health disability other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support the claim and that the current diagnosis of depressive disorder did not begin during active service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 17, 2014, for service connection for schizoaffective disorder with depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded both claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including failing to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor, obtain SSA records, and provide adequate opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and attributed his psychiatric symptoms to persistent depressive disorder, which is already service-connected. For persistent depressive disorder, the Veteran received a rating of 50% based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and failure to substantially comply with prior directives. The Veteran's complete Social Security Administration (SSA) records are needed, as well as efforts to corroborate her in-service stressors related to personal assault. An addendum medical opinion is also required.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder with depression, and a migraine disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and bipolar I disorder is denied. The decision was final as the Veteran did not appeal or submit new evidence within the appeal period.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective October 6, 2020. The TDIU and SMC benefits are also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have migraines or a psychiatric disability related to service, and his PFB is currently rated as noncompensable. The issues of service connection for migraines, MDD, and an initial compensable rating for PFB are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and headaches due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's psychiatric condition is being examined again to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. A VA examination will also be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed headache condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to procedural errors in the initial rating decision. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate statement of reasons or bases for the decision. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his 70 percent rating for persistent depressive disorder (PDD) based on an arrest and incarceration in December 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder was reopened due to the submission of new VA treatment records within a year of the original denial. The effective date is set at August 6, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records, and the Veteran already has service connection for MDD.