Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder present, including PTSD. The Veteran's previous diagnoses need to be reviewed and evaluated.

The Board granted an effective date of February 26, 2015, for the award of service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and a disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 3, 2014, as the evidence did not show that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on her service-connected conditions including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee strain, left knee strain, right leg sciatic radiculopathy associated with thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and left leg sciatic radiculopathy associated with thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and insomnia disorder, is proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% evaluation effective from February 6, 2017.

The Board dismissed the claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder NOS from January 21, 2014 as it was a purely ministerial implementation of the previous Board decision.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for major depressive disorder, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service. The decision is based on an adequate VA examination conducted outside of the period considered by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his psychiatric disability and entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to assess his current symptoms and manifestations of any psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and the persuasive evidence of record is against finding that his service-connected disabilities were of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for depression due to another medical condition and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

Your claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been granted, and you no longer need to appeal this issue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The VA examiner determined that these conditions cannot be differentiated from his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the evaluation for panic disorder with residuals of insomnia, which he also claimed as anxiety and depression. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is related to his in-service experiences and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of anatomical loss or use of both feet or one hand and one foot. The Veteran was found capable of performing activities of daily living with assistance but not requiring regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of insomnia and depression, finding that the earliest factually ascertainable date was March 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and high blood pressure are being remanded due to pre-decisional errors in the VA examination process.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically unspecified depressive disorder with panic disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment from August 31, 2011. The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for this condition.