Depression decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. The decision is based on a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for PTSD with major depressive disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and inadequate attempts at corroborating claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and cannabis use disorder, as well as her claims for TDIU and DEA benefits, are granted effective July 12, 2019.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating of 100 percent for the period from June 25, 2016, through December 31, 2016, due to hospital treatment for service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran was also granted a disability rating of 100 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and unspecified cannabis use disorder starting from January 1, 2017.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including insomnia disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, warrants a 70 percent initial disability rating from June 1, 2020 to August 23, 2021.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for lung nodule. The Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder) were granted.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that her current condition is not related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder impingement, left shoulder injury/impingement, residuals of left tibia and fibula fracture with left knee degenerative arthritis, and hiatal hernia with GERD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with depression, is granted. The appeal for service connection for psychosis for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and mild neurocognitive disorder is rated at 100 percent effective February 6, 2017. The VA also granted eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits from the same date.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted effective October 3, 2020.

The Veteran's diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the DIC claim due to a duty to assist error, specifically related to the PACT Act. The appellant's DIC claim will be developed in accordance with VA's statutory duties under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder) was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot issue a decision as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including right and left hip, right knee, right shoulder, left hand (finger), left elbow, vision impairment, thyroid cancer, psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), separate psychiatric disorder, neck muscle spasms, left shoulder muscle spasms, and a left knee sprain.