Depression Board decisions

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder and depression with anxious distress are granted as related to military sexual trauma during inactive duty for training.,An effective date of August 10, 2016, is granted for service connection of left sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and service connection for ulcerative colitis are being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia and alcohol use disorder caused his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and there is no evidence linking them to his service. The claims for depression, insomnia, sleep apnea, skeletal arthritis, chronic pain, muscle spasm, left upper extremity neuropathy and nerve pain, right upper extremity neuropathy and nerve pain, left lower extremity neuropathy and nerve pain, and right lower extremity neuropathy and nerve pain are all denied.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective from August 3, 2021. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded due to a failure to verify a stressor related to the death of his two best friends in Iraq. The AOJ needs to develop this stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent depressive disorder and insomnia.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for depressive disorder, effective August 1, 2020, as the reduction was improper and did not comply with applicable regulations.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military sexual trauma (MST). The issues of entitlement to service connection for alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine use disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as PTSD. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his increased evaluation for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied.

The Veteran withdrew her claim for service connection for depression before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder, moderate with anxious distress and panic attacks is related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to the AOJ's failure to address whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the program. The Board finds that the Veteran has been in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform the ADL of bathing.