Depression Board decisions

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for an abnormal heart, anxiety condition with phobias, depression, headaches, and flat feet.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal at the October 2025 Board hearing, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include conversion disorder, anxiety, and depression with alcohol and substance abuse, as the evidence did not support a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 11, 2018, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder NOS and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for tension headaches, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, depressive disorder, and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. It granted a 20% disability rating for the left and right leg disabilities but denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia, urinary incontinence, left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, left leg condition (knee strain), right leg condition (knee strain), obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, heart condition, and hypertension. However, it dismissed the appeals for service connection for major neurocognitive disorder, MDD, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches, OSA, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a psychiatric disorder to verify an in-service stressor and obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed depressive disorder arose in service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 70 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability, finding no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to August 8, 2024.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for hearing loss and granted an effective date of August 5, 2021, for the award of service connection for chronic sinusitis. The claims for increased ratings and additional service connection were also denied or remanded.

The Board granted a 70 percent initial rating for major depressive disorder (MDD) based on the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for vertigo, major depressive disorder, and tinnitus based on evidence of in-service onset or manifestation within one year of separation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as service connection for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia, urinary incontinence, left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, left leg condition (knee strain), right leg condition (knee strain), obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, heart condition, and hypertension. However, it dismissed the appeals for service connection for major neurocognitive disorder, MDD, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and remanded claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right knee mild medial compartment osteoarthritis, and anxiety with depression.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and other conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for migraines and scars of the extremities/trunk were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 24, 2014, as the evidence demonstrated that he was able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite service-connected disabilities.