Depression Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation for housebound status, effective December 1, 2021. The major depressive disorder prevents the Veteran from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling, and his TDIU based on PTSD with major depressive disorder alone is not sufficient to meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her PTSD and depressive disorders, including persistent major depressive episodes, is granted effective from September 30, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error where VA was aware of relevant private treatment records but did not notify the appellant or request a release for these records.

The Veteran's disability picture, primarily due to Parkinson's disease and related manifestations, does not meet the criteria for SMC at the statutory housebound level as his other disabilities do not yield a combined rating of 60 percent.

The Veteran's disability picture, primarily due to Parkinson's disease and related manifestations, does not meet the criteria for SMC at the statutory housebound level as his other disabilities do not yield a combined rating of 60 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for the migraine headache disability rating, as it was already granted from August 31, 2007. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and major depressive disorder with TBI are remanded due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to obtain his complete service personnel records and service treatment records, which were received prior to the issuance of the decision on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a neurocognitive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected celiac disease with GERD, considering all submitted evidence and finding that the positive and negative evidence are at least approximately evenly balanced.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, was granted service connection prior to March 26, 2022.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 70 percent rating for recurrent major depressive disorder, effective October 1, 2021, as the reduction was improper and his symptoms did not improve.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 16, 2021 for the award of service connection for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Depressive Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, along with other physical conditions such as end stage renal disease, left eye blindness, and cognitive impairment, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC at the rate provided by 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder with major depressive-like episode and insomnia disorder was granted effective August 1, 2024. The earlier effective date of June 22, 2021, is based on the continuous pursuit of the issue by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted effective October 29, 2019. He is currently receiving a 70% disability rating.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder with depression due to chronic pain, was rated at 70 percent effective October 26, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms began worsening as early as October 26, 2021 following his knee surgery in September 2020.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety, depression, teeth grinding, residuals of TBI, sleep disability, breathing disability, and IBS as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with MDD is denied, and the claim for an effective date prior to March 14, 2019, for TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was denied as he does not have any service-connected disabilities rated at 100 percent, nor does he meet the criteria for disability due to blindness in both eyes, full thickness or subdermal burns, loss of use of upper or lower extremities, or a permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without aids. His major depressive disorder is not considered a qualifying disability.