Depression Board decisions

The Veteran is granted individual unemployability from November 28, 2012, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia with pain.

The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with depression, left knee degenerative joint disease, and pseudofolliculitis barbae based on the evidence supporting a nexus to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for constipation, and an increased rating for major depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder, but denied service connection for left leg arthritis, right leg arthritis, sleep apnea, a head scar, and a chin scar.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder and anxiety, as there was no diagnosis of PTSD that meets the DSM-5 criteria and no causal linkage between the in-service event and the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions.

The Board granted service connection for single episode major depressive disorder with anxious distress, somatic symptom disorder, and alcohol use disorder; right ankle arthritis; and bilateral plantar fasciitis and a right foot heel spur. The claims for recurrent hip disabilities, a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament repair residuals, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for cause of death due to the inextricably intertwined pending issues of entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected psychiatric disability, service connection for persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and service connection for hypertension. The claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (persistent depressive disorder and anxiety) as secondary to the Veteran's back and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression and PTSD was granted, while claims for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), left restless leg syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, chronic headaches, and bilateral tinnitus were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding a relationship between his service on burial duty and his current depression.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied an evaluation greater than 70 percent for the Veteran's depressive disorder, as the severity of symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability diagnosed as depressive disorder and a back disability (diagnosed as intervertebral disc syndrome), but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include an anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent from September 1, 2021, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include an anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent from September 1, 2021, but no more.

The appeal for service connection for anxiety and depression is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of death, finding that the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder was at least as likely as not a contributing factor in his end-stage congestive heart failure.