Depression Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than December 1, 2022, for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Board granted an effective date of December 11, 2021, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) with anxious distress with insomnia disorder.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified insomnia disorder, and remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II and an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions and denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected depressive disorder contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than June 21, 2023, for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for traumatic brain injury with unspecified neurocognitive disorder and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, related to the Veteran's combat service in Afghanistan.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent depressive disorder with persistent major depressive episode, thoracolumbar spine disability, pelvic pain, to include pain during sexual intercourse, left lower extremity peripheral nerve disability, and right lower extremity peripheral nerve disability. The claims for a left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip arthritis or another right hip disability, high cholesterol, bowel incontinence, 'nerve damage secondary to bowel incontinence', and pain while defecating were denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for major depressive disorder, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this issue.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral inguinal hernia and residual scar, but remanded claims for service connection for low back disability, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for adjustment disorder, unspecified (previously claimed as depression), to include as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and higher initial ratings for various disabilities.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for an increased rating for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder before it was established.

The Board granted service connection for endocrine issues, eczema, and unspecified depressive disorder. The claims for migraines, back pain, an endocrine disability, and a sickle-cell disorder were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as sleep disturbances, anxiety, PTSD, and major depression, to obtain a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for multiple acquired psychiatric and physical disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded a claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his psychiatric disorder due to his failure to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Board granted earlier effective dates and initial ratings for muscle tension headaches, sleep apnea, and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied a higher rating for sleep apnea and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Board also granted an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied a higher rating.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 24, 2012, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and a higher initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's mental health disability (to include depressive disorder and PTSD), but denied other claims including TDIU, SMC, and higher ratings for migraine headaches and sleep apnea.