Depression Board decisions

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD and migraines, granted service connection for migraines with an effective date of October 12, 2014, but remanded claims for TDIU and special monthly compensation.

The Board granted service connection for depression and remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, left sciatic radicular pain, and right sciatic radicular pain. The claim for tinnitus was denied.

The Board granted a disability rating of 100 percent for the service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, as the Veteran's symptoms resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, as a pre-decisional duty to assist error was not adequately addressed.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for various conditions, as these issues were deferred by the AOJ and not yet final.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety (claimed as PTSD) and depression due to the lack of a current diagnosis, and remanded claims for hypertension and insomnia due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 50 percent and 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, trauma and stressor related disorder, personality disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.

The Board granted eligibility for the direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an April 2024 Rating Decision.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right shoulder disability (recurrent dislocation), insomnia, major depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, it granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for persistent depressive disorder with mild anxious distress and mild pure dysthymic syndrome, effective April 21, 2021.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating prior to July 29, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for anxiety and depression to obtain a medical opinion addressing their etiology in relation to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted an increased initial 70 percent rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU), and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected MDD without psychotic features, to include insomnia disorder, cannabis use disorder, and alcohol use disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 30 percent for panic disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, but denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of major depressive disorder and cervical spine condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, MDD, and schizophrenia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but did not warrant total occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and depressive disorder with anxiety, but denied service connection for glaucoma.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's deployment in Macedonia and incomplete information on the VA Form 21-8940.